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Sources: Rashford reps, Barça in talks over move
Marcus Rashford's representatives have held face-to-face talks with Barcelona about the possibility of a move before the transfer deadline, sources have told ESPN.
Rashford is available this month after being frozen out at Old Trafford by head coach Ruben Amorim.
Sources said that United are willing to listen to loan offers, although they will demand that any interested club must pay at least a portion of the 27-year-old's salary.
Barcelona were offered the chance to sign Rashford before the window opened, according to sources.
They have asked to be kept informed about developments regarding his future, but have financial issues to sort out before beginning formal talks with United.
It's likely that Barcelona would have to secure exits for Eric García and Ansu Fati to give themselves the financial flexibility to move for Rashford.
Sources have told ESPN that there are doubts at the club about whether they need Rashford because the position on the left is covered by Raphinha, but president Joan Laporta is believed to be a fan of the England international.
Rashford hasn't featured for United since the 2-1 win over FC Viktoria Plzen on Dec. 12 amid criticism from Amorim about his performances in training.
He trained as normal with the United squad at Carrington on Wednesday morning ahead of the Europa League clash against Rangers on Thursday.
Borussia Dortmund have also been linked with Rashford, but there are doubts about whether the Bundesliga side could afford to pay a significant part of his wage.
New Man City signing Khusanov is 'built to defend'
With news Monday that Manchester City have confirmed the signing of Uzbekistan international defender Abdukodir Khusanov, ESPN's Julien Laurens and Tor-Kristian Karlsen tell you what you need to know about the 19-year-old starlet heading to the English Premier League.
The Lens scout who travelled to the Under-20 Asian Cup in Uzbekistan in March 2023 went with one mission: to confirm the talent of 19-year-old Uzbekistan centre-back Abdukodir Khusanov. Through stats and research, Lens' recruitment team had already identified Khusanov, who had been impressing in the Belarus top flight with Energetik-BGU Minsk, as a player to keep a close eye on. Believing he was one of the most promising defenders of his generation, the club needed to see him in action.
Lens didn't have to wait long for an answer as his performance at the tournament, which was won by the host nation, confirmed it. He was arguably the best player on show and Lens were keen to sign him before he took part in the Under-20 FIFA World Cup two months later, as scouts from bigger clubs would be there and would surely notice him.
Lens had to wait until July to get their man, securing the transfer for a measly 100,000 -- it was still the biggest transfer fee Energetik-BGU had ever received -- with the view that he could be moved on for a significant profit in the future. The idea was to give him some time to adapt to Ligue 1, play in the Champions League a bit, and develop his potential.
The club had a three-year plan to make Khusanov into one of the best centre-backs in France, but it took only 18 months. Called "Kodir" by his teammates, he made a few mistakes along the way, like his red card against Paris Saint-Germain in November. His ill discipline was something to note, with five yellow cards in 11 Ligue 1 games last season. But he has course-corrected since and has been much more focused this year (two yellows in 13.)
After missing out on 40m in transfer fees last summer when exits for Kevin Danso and Neil El Aynaoui collapsed, Lens needed to bring in funds to balance their books this January. Ideally, they wanted to keep Khusanov for another 18 months -- even six additional months could have seen them bank more money -- but the necessity to do the deal now was apparent and the club was always clear that he would not leave for less than 40m. In the end, they reached a deal for 48m, including add-ons related to performance.
One of the world's top agents, Jorge Mendes, brokered the transfer and Manchester City moved quickly this month to bolster their ailing defence. For a player who was earning only 35,000 a week, a move to the Premier League -- where he will be the first Uzbek to play in the league -- is life-changing. -- JL
Position
The 18-time Uzbekistan international has predominantly featured in the middle or to the left in Lens' back three. On a few occasions he's also played in a back-four partnership, but it's evident that having two more experienced centre-backs alongside him (Danso, Jonathan Gradit or Facundo Medina) has helped his development. With slightly less space to defend, being "boxed in" and more protected in a back three, Khusanov can focus on his core responsibilities -- i.e. defending -- and leave the construction of play from defence to those more comfortable on the ball. -- TK
Strengths
For those unacquainted with Khusanov's style, his first warmup should give a few clues as to what he's all about. His 6-foot-1 frame -- compact, powerful with strong legs and broad shoulders -- means that he is built to defend. A cool 2.35 interceptions per 90 minutes -- putting him in the top 1% of Ligue 1 centre-backs -- confirms what is evident just from watching him: He plays on the front foot, is proactive and looks to snuff out danger at the first opportunity.
He is quick, too -- very quick. In December, a clip of him sprinting the length of the pitch (at 37 kmph) to chase down Reims winger Junya Ito went viral.
Khusanov is too fast! @RCLens pic.twitter.com/JKlNsLnoRV
Ligue 1 English (@Ligue1_ENG) December 8, 2024
Khusanov's impressive game-reading skills and physical style of defending should make him well equipped to deal with the intensity of the Premier League, but there's a flip-side to his eagerness to compete and tackle (73% successful per 90 minutes). It means he operates on small margins and his appetite for a last-ditch interception can cause unnecessary fouls.
Yet compared to his under-20 centre-back peers, his qualities as a one-on-one defender stand out. Khusanov is extremely tenacious and is happy to defend by whatever means needed: body, head, blocks -- which is something of a dying art for young defenders. -- TK
How he can improve
The most obvious area is his on-the-ball composure and distribution. Though Lens are one of the most possession-heavy sides in Ligue 1 (54% per game on average), Khusanov usually leaves the high-risk passing to his defensive colleagues and generally picks out his wing-back, who typically receives the ball with more space and less pressure out wide.
While a similar organisation of responsibilities will no doubt be the case at City too, it'll be interesting to see how quickly he can improve his distribution to the point where he is confident enough to play in a side whose entire game plan is based on building from the back.
Khusanov is by no means a liability with the ball (his long passes are improving), but as Pep Guardiola tends to prefer "possession experts" as centre-backs, the arrival of a less-cultured defender does represent somewhat unchartered territory. Mind you, Ruben Dias was similar when he arrived and no one expected Guardiola to sign an out-and-out centre-forward to fit into his system, but Erling Haaland has worked out fine. -- TK
In quotes
Lens boss Will Still told Yahoo Sports: "He's calm, powerful, he's fast. He doesn't talk but he's good. When I arrived, with the departure of 'Kev' [Danso] in sight, Jean-Louis Leca [Lens' sports coordinator] told me: 'Don't worry, there's 'Kodir' who is here, and he's ready.' He wasn't wrong. He has very, very impressive potential."
Who else were linked?
Rumours linking the defender away from Lens have persisted for months. Liverpool and Manchester United were said to be early admirers of Khusanov from the moment he made his Ligue 1 debut. But recently, Real Madrid, Tottenham Hotspur and Newcastle United have been mentioned, too. -- TK
How will he fit at Manchester City?
Khusanov's meteoric rise proves that top talent can be found anywhere. His calm, level-headed personality has served him well, but with only 20 Ligue 1 starts to his name, it remains to be seen whether he has been signed as a future project or will be thrown into action straight away.
Given that his transfer cost 48m, it's fair to assume that Khusanov will be getting some game time soon. And given City's recent defensive woes, Guardiola could certainly do with a centre-back who thinks "defence first."
With veteran right-back Kyle Walker set to depart this month, City's need for a defender with sufficient speed to keep up in long-distance sprint duels -- being caught in defensive transitions has been one of Guardiola's chief concerns this season -- is at the point of being precarious. So Khusanov's pace should prove to be a valuable asset in that regard.
In terms of assimilation, Khusanov is learning English, though he is not the most talkative even in his own language. But his main challenge will be to learn how to play in a back four, which relies on being comfortable on the ball. -- TK
Transfer rumors, news: Man United's opening offer for Dorgu is rejected
Manchester United have seen their opening offer for left-back Patrick Dorgu rejected by Lecce as the club hold out for 40m, while Nottingham Forest will compete with Arsenal and others for Matheus Cunha. Join us for the latest transfer news, rumors and gossip from around the globe.
Transfers homepage | Done deals | Men's January grades | Women's January grades
TOP STORIES
- Dortmund sack Sahin after poor start to season
- Source: No Pogba deal imminent despite European offers
- Source: Chelsea near $1m+ deal for USWNT star Girma
TRENDING RUMORS
- Manchester United have seen their opening offer for Lecce left-back Patrick Dorgu rejected, according to Sky Sport Italia. Ruben Amorim is eager to strengthen in this area before the window closes, and the report says that United directors are in Italy to try to get this deal over the line, as well as hold talks over Alejandro Garnacho's future. United are said to have offered 30m plus 5m in add-ons for the 20-year-old. Lecce are expecting an improved bid in the coming days and want a fee of 40m. However, Gazzetta dello Sport reports that Napoli hope to muscle in, creating a transfer triangle.
- Nottingham Forest have made Wolverhampton Wanderers forward Matheus Cunha their priority for the January transfer window, reports the Daily Mail. They will face plenty of competition for the 25-year-old, who has also been linked with Arsenal, Chelsea and Tottenham Hotspur, while the Brazilian has also held talks about a contract renewal at Molineux.
- Barcelona centre-back Ronald Araújo is set to sign a new contract at the club, reports Fabrizio Romano. It is reported that the 25-year-old has agreed to a deal that secures his future at Camp Nou until the summer of 2031, with the official signing lined up to take place on Thursday. Araujo had previously been linked with an exit as the Blaugrana looked to remain aligned with Financial Fair Play (FFP), but he will now remain a long-term part of their project.
- A full agreement has been reached between AC Milan and Manchester City over a deal for defender Kyle Walker, reports Calciomercato. The 34-year-old is said to be set to complete his move to the San Siro on Thursday ahead of his medical, joining on a loan that can be made permanent for a fee in the region of 5m. The Rossoneri are believed to be keen to keep him beyond the end of the season with plans to offer him a contract until the summer of 2027.
- Talks are ongoing between Napoli and Borussia Dortmund over a move for winger Karim Adeyemi, reports Matteo Moretto. It is reported that BVB are open to parting ways with the 23-year-old in the current transfer window, with the Serie A club having identified him as a replacement for Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, who recently joined Paris Saint-Germain. Adeyemi has contributed to five goals in nine Bundesliga appearances so far this season.
COMPLETED TRANSFERS
- Former Real Madrid and Paris Saint-Germain goalkeeper Keylor Navas has signed for Argentine club Newell's Old Boys. Read
- Former Premier League star Wilfried Zaha has joined Charlotte FC as a Designated Player on loan from Turkish giants Galatasaray for the 2025 MLS season. Read
- Manchester City women have announced the permanent signing of forward Kerolin Nicoli, 25, from NWSL side North Carolina Courage, with the Brazil international penning a contract through to the summer of 2028.
- Former Belgium international and Roma midfielder Radja Nainggolan has come out of retirement to sign for KSC Lokeren.
- Brentford have signed Denmark international attacking midfielder Mikkel Damsgaard to a new contract until the summer of 2030 with the option of a further year.
We're delighted to welcome @kerolinnicolii to the Club on a permanent deal pic.twitter.com/mHBE13LOPR
Manchester City Women (@ManCityWomen) January 22, 2025
EXPERT TAKE
ESPN's Mark Ogden considers if Alejandro Garnacho will leave Manchester United this month, and whether Chelsea or Napoli could win the race.
Alejandro Garnacho is the big-name player (Antony doesn't count as he is no more than an expensive fringe player) most likely to leave Manchester United during this transfer window.
United have firm interest in the Argentina winger from Napoli and Chelsea and any permanent transfer would be crucial in enabling United to immediately reinvest in Ruben Amorim's squad.
That's the attraction to United. As a home-grown player (Garnacho came through the United academy after being signed as a 16-year-old from Atletico Madrid), United could claim any transfer fee as pure profit within profit and sustainability (PSR) rules, so the downside of offloading a young player with potential is offset by the need to sign new players for key areas right now.
United's preference would be a transfer to Napoli as it would diminish the threat of him embarrassing the club by thriving elsewhere in the Premier League. However, Chelsea will help inflate any fee United could get from Napoli.
Chelsea's interest is intriguing considering their wealth of young attacking options. But at 20, Garnacho is a classic Chelsea target because he has potential to grow and improve and ensure the prospect of a profit if he was to move on in the years ahead.
United coach Ruben Amorim has shown himself to be lukewarm about Garnacho's value to his team, so a deal is likely to happen before the deadline.
OTHER RUMORS
- Real Valladolid have released a statement to announce that Juma Bah hasn't turned up for training and has paid the release cause in his contract. The LaLiga outfit blame Manchester City for the move, with the 18-year-old centre-back linked with the Premier League club. (Real Valladolid)
- Manchester United could face a busy end to the transfer window with up to nine players moved on and four new faces coming in. (Daily Mirror)
- Chelsea are ready to enter the race to sign Douglas Luiz on loan from Juventus. The former Aston Villa midfielder has been linked with Manchester City. (Gazzetta dello Sport)
- Bayern Munich manager Vincent Kompany has already approved a potential summer move for Borussia Dortmund winger Jamie Gittens. Initial talks with the 20-year-old's management have already taken place and he is among Bayern's favoured options. (Florian Plettenberg)
- AC Milan and Man City have agreed terms over a loan deal for Kyle Walker, which includes the option to make it permanent for a fee of 5m. (Calciomercato)
- Al Hilal are still seriously interested in Mohamed Salah, but Paris Saint-Germain do not intend to try to sign the Egypt international, who is into the final six months of his Liverpool contract. (Florian Plettenberg)
- Lazio have made Chelsea duo Cesare Casadei and Renato Veiga key transfer targets. The deal for Casadei is close, and they are now ready to rival Juventus for Veiga. (Sky Sport Italia)
- Marseille have entered the race to sign Brighton & Hove Albion forward Evan Ferguson on loan. OM boss Roberto De Zerbi, who used to manage Brighton, sees the 20-year-old as an alternative to No. 1 target Santiago Giménez of Feyenoord. (RMC Sport)
- And it looks like Marseille will have to look elsewhere. AC Milan have agreed outline personal terms with Feyenoord striker Santiago Gimenez, but a transfer fee has yet to be agreed. (Gazzetta dello Sport)
- Marseille are also trying to persuade France international Aymeric Laporte to leave Al Nassr and move to Ligue 1. (L'Équipe)
- Jesus Vallejo has rejected the chance to leave Real Madrid for Turkish side Trabzonspor. (Relevo)
- Palmeiras hope to sign Barcelona misfit Vitor Roque in the summer. Roque is currently on loan at Real Betis, and the Brazilian club could offer 27m for 80% of his rights, giving Barca a small profit on the 30m they paid a year ago. (Diario Sport)
- Pablo Torre won't leave Barcelona in this window, and will stay and fight for his spot. (Mundo Deportivo)
- Barcelona have been considering a move for Benfica left-back Alvaro Carreras, who is also linked with Manchester United, but have been put off by the 50m asking price. (Diario Sport)
- Ronald Araujo and Pedri are close to putting pen to paper on contracts which will keep them at Barcelona until 2030. (Marca)
- West Ham will look to sign two players before the Feb.3 transfer deadline with a centre-back and a centre-forward the priority. (Football Insider)
- Celtic could be out of the running to sign Aston Villa's Louie Barry after a structured deal worth a total of 10m for the 21-year-old was turned down by the Premier League club. Barry has been recalled from a loan at Stockport County and is most likely to go out to a Championship club on another temporary move. (Football Insider)
- "It's pretty clear ... I'm not leaving. This is my team, this is my club!" -- Liverpool midfielder Harvey Elliott has moved to end speculation he could leave the club in this window. (Amazon Prime)
- Fenerbahce have agreed terms to sign central defender Milan Skriniar on loan from Paris Saint-Germain for the rest of the season. (Fabrice Hakwins)
- Danilo is in negotiations to terminate his Juventus contract in order to move to Flamengo. (ESPN Brazil)
- Chelsea will hold new talks over Manchester United winger Alejandro Garnacho. (Daily Telegraph)
- Barcelona is Marcus Rashford's favoured option for a January move. (Relevo)
- Arsenal are closely monitoring the situation of Brentford forward Yoane Wissa as the Gunners look to strengthen their attacking options in the winter window. (Football Insider)
- Juventus have made a loan offer for Chelsea defender Renato Veiga. (Fabrizio Romano)
- A 10m deal has been agreed by West Ham to sign OH Leuven midfielder Ezechiel Banzuzi. (Sky Sports)
- Arsenal remain in contact with RB Leipzig over a potential move for striker Benjamin Šeško. (AS)
- Chelsea have no plans to recall midfielder Andrey Santos from his loan at Strasbourg amid bright form in Ligue 1. (TeamTalk)
- RB Leipzig are lining up a move for Nordsjælland left-back Daniel Svensson, who could reportedly be signed for a fee in the region of 7m. (Sky Sports Deutschland)
Amy Jones plays down Hartley row as England face must-win Canberra contest
England go into Thursday's second T20I in Canberra needing nothing less than a win to maintain their hopes of salvaging a drawn series after four consecutive losses. But their on-field struggles have been overshadowed by the team's alleged response to Hartley's criticism of their fitness levels, which began with their T20 World Cup exit in October.
"The reason I said that they were not as fit as Australia is because I want them to compete with Australia," Hartley had added. "I want them to be better than Australia, and I want them to win Ashes and World Cups. I'm giving my opinion, and I've been given the cold shoulder from the England team ever since."
Replying to the row, Jones acknowledged that the squad had fallen well short of its own expectations during the Ashes, but denied that the players had taken Hartley's comments personally.
"I don't think it is the case," Jones said. "I think we all respect that commentators have their own opinions and it's Alex's job to say how she feels. And I think we all respect that. Hartley's a great personality, and we have a lot of love for her within the group. So, I definitely don't think that's the case."
Jones herself has been a qualified success in a misfiring batting line-up, making three 30-plus scores in four innings to date, including an unbeaten 47 in a low-scoring ODI in Melbourne.
"That one in particular was hard to take, for many reasons," Jones said. "I felt emotionally drained afterwards [because], with the obvious mistake at the end, you definitely feel responsible for the loss. But the support from all the girls and the staff emphasised that long games don't often come down to one specific moment, so I guess that definitely helped.
"I've obviously made contributions along the way, but as a player, you definitely judge yourself on matchwinning contributions. I've been lucky to be in a position where I could have really helped influence a few of those games, especially in the ODIs, and I'm disappointed not to be able to get the team over the line. There's a lot of learnings in there."
Even with the series all but lost, Jones says that the squad will be sticking to the same mantras and methods that have been in place since the start of Jon Lewis' tenure as head coach, in particular their desire to "inspire and entertain" - traits that have arguably been in scarce supply in a dispiriting campaign.
"We're still working hard at training and in team meetings to try and put our best foot forward," Jones said. "We'll be very excited to come out play tomorrow, and hopefully get some points on the board.
"There was a bit of reconnection after the second ODI about how we want to play, making sure we're still trying to inspire and entertain," she added. "That's worked really well for us in the past, and it's something that all of us connect to really well.
"It brings out more of a fearless playing style, which suits us. I think we've lifted a bit away from that, and so reconnecting to that is important for us. We play our best when we take the game on, put their bowlers under pressure with the bat, and have a wicket-taking mindset with the ball. In the field, it's around energy and enjoyment. When all those things come together, we're obviously a very good side."
No clarity yet on Rohit travelling to Pakistan for Champions Trophy captains event
"It [Rohit travelling to Pakistan] has not yet been discussed. It is not on the agenda yet," Devjit Saikia, the BCCI's newly-appointed secretary, told ESPNcricinfo.
It could not be confirmed whether the BCCI would need the Indian government's permission for Rohit to travel to Pakistan.
Due to the climate of political tension between the two countries, India and Pakistan have played no bilateral series since 2012, but continue to meet at ICC tournaments. While Pakistan have travelled to India for ICC tournaments in this period, India have not played any international cricket in Pakistan since 2008.
It is understood that the PCB has requested the ICC to ensure that, as per standard practice, all teams and captains are available for the Champions Trophy photoshoot, opening ceremony and other pre-tournament engagements. The ICC, it is understood, is still finalising logistics and travel dates for teams.
Incidentally, the ICC did not organise a captains event ahead of the 2024 Men's T20 World Cup which was co-hosted by the West Indies and the USA. With teams playing warm-up matches in several countries, the ICC instead opted to do the official launch via a lighting projection show that featured all 20 captains beamed onto the Rockefeller Centre building in New York City. It is understood that like in the 2024 T20 World Cup, teams will have the option of playing up to two warm-up matches each depending on their arrival time for the Champions Trophy.
Saikia: 'BCCI will follow every uniform-related ICC rule'
Saikia, meanwhile, has clarified that India will adhere to the dress code set by the ICC for the Champions Trophy, responding to media speculation that the BCCI had objected to the host nation's name on their jersey. Player jerseys during ICC events usually include the tournament logo with the name of the tournament, host country and year below it.
"BCCI will follow every uniform-related ICC rule during Champions Trophy," Saikia told PTI. "Whatever the other teams will do regarding the logo and dress code, we are going to follow in true letter and spirit."
With additional reporting by Osman Samiuddin
Ireland knock Pakistan out; Australia, Scotland, Bangladesh, England, USA, SA, Nigeria, New Zealand through to Super Six
After being sent in, Bangladesh found themselves on 50 for 5 after ten overs. Afia Ashima and captain Sumaiya Akter then added 38 in 33 balls to give the innings some stability. Ashima fell for 21 but Sumaiya stayed unbeaten till the end, scoring 28 off 36 balls to take the side to 120 for 9.
In response, Scotland were 19 for no loss in four overs before Soba bowled Emma Walsingham for 11. In the same over, Pippa Kelly was run-out. Wicketkeeper Pippa Sproul and captain Niamh Muir put the chase back on track by adding 50 in 60 balls, but after Muir fell for 22, none of the incoming batters could cross even 5.
Sproul tried to keep Scotland in the contest with her 43 off 41. But Soba ended her resistance and then went on to take two more wickets as Scotland could manage only 103 for 8.
In a rain-affected 17-over game, New Zealand were in trouble with the bat at 12 for 3. But Eve Wolland and Anika Todd added 55 for the fourth wicket to steady the ship.
After Todd fell for a 19-ball 27, it was on Wolland to hold New Zealand's innings together. She hit two fours and two sixes before she fell for 48 off 43 in the final over, helping New Zealand get to 107 for 9. For Samoa, seamer Olive Lefaga took three wickets and Verra Farane took two.
The total proved to be more than enough, as New Zealand skittled Samoa out for just 40, with no batter reaching the double digits. Rishika Jaswal and Tash Wakelin claimed three wickets each while Sophie Court picked up two.
England didn't get off to the best of starts, with opener Erin Thomas out for a golden duck off the second ball of the chase. But, it was one-way traffic thereon with Perrin and Johnson putting on a 117-run stand that took them two runs short of the target. England captain Abi Norgrove had to just hit the winning run off the first ball she faced, with Johnson finishing unbeaten on 44.
Both England and USA have qualified for the Super Six stage.
Bosman's priceless spell clinches series win for South Africa Under-19s
South Africa Under-19s 158 for 6 (Hansen 57, Ali 3-51) beat England Under-19s 156 (Vaughan 60, Bosman 3-4) by four wickets
It was spinner Bosman who turned the game with his three wickets in the 37th over immediately after Vaughan, who had struck six boundaries, was caught off a miscue to the final ball of the previous over from Bandile Mbatha.
Bosman's key over saw Joe Moores bowled attempting a lap sweep before Harry Moore was stumped thanks to sharp hands from Hansen. Bosman then parried a return catch from Eddie Jack and saw it fall to him as he stumbled to the ground.
South Africa made a solid start as Adnaan Lagadien and Chad Mason added 49 for the first wicket before Hansen took up the attack with a 46-ball half-century.
The Young Lions battled back through Warwickshire spinner Ali, who returned 3 for 51, but the hosts needed only seven more when Hansen edged Alex Green to wicketkeeper Thomas Rew on 57.
The two-Youth Test series begins at Coertzenburg Cricket Club in Stellenbosch on 27 January.
Abhishek, Varun lead India's demolition of England
India 133 for 3 (Abhishek 79, Samson 26, Archer 2-21) beat England 132 (Buttler 68, Varun 3-23, Arshdeep 2-17) by seven wickets
By the time Buttler departed in the 17th over, he had provided 68 out of the 109 on the board, with Harry Brook the only batter to reach double figures before Jofra Archer pitched in with 12 from No.9.
Brook's 17 was part of a stand of 48 with Buttler, the vice-captain and captain setting about a rebuild that was ended by Varun's googlies. The 33-year-old bowled Brook and Liam Livingstone in the space of three deliveries to turn that back to rubble. His third was Buttler, holing out to deep square leg.
Whatever little jeopardy there was in the chase, it was restricted to just the fifth over, when Archer removed both. Sanju Samson - who had done the early running - and Surayakumar for a duck in four deliveries. Archer, who bowled his four overs on the bounce having opened the innings, was comfortably the pick of England's bowlers with 2 for 21. By contrast, Gus Atkinson was taken apart for 38 runs across his two overs, with his first blitzed for 22 by Samson.
The onus was then on Abhishek, who was put down by Adil Rashid on 29 off 16. The left-hander would bring up his half-century just four balls later.
Though Rashid would eventually get his man, India had all but established a 1-0 lead in this five-match series. A top-edged four from Tilak Varma off Mark Wood's bouncer off the penultimate ball of the 13th over confirmed it.
Arshdeep Singh sets the tone
Before England were choked through the middle by a three-pronged spin attack, they were clipped up top by the lone full-time quick. Since debuting in 2022, Arshdeep Singh has been a new-ball banker for India's shortest format. Consistently devastating and devastatingly consistent.
It was fitting that on the night he became India's leading T20I wicket-taker, he reinforced his credentials as one of the format's leading seamers in an opening three-over spell of 2 for 10. Movement away and up off a good length did for Salt, who could only sky a leading edge, was followed by nip the other way that left the left-handed Duckett for a similar demise.
Of those initial 18 deliveries, a remarkable 12 were dots which saw him get the better of Buttler and Brook without reward. On another day, their feelers outside off stump may have resulted in edges, bringing more joy Arshdeep's way. But rather than bemoan missing out on those extra notches in the wicket column, he seemed happy enough with his work, having opened the door for his spinners.
Familiar failings
It is easy to say the likes of Brook, Livingstone and Jacob Bethell should have taken cues from Buttler, particularly his ability to pick length. But Buttler's vast IPL experience and superior ability makes that hard to replicate. Credit belongs to the bowlers, particularly Varun. Despite the grass on the surface, the wristspinner was unperturbed. His IPL nous came to the fore at a ground where he has taken 24 wickets at 22.20 from 16 appearances.
A holding pattern of deliveries just short of a length kept the ball out of hitting arcs, and he was not pre-occupied with spinning the ball past the edge - even though he beat the insides of Brook's and Livingstone's. "Bowling side spin, I cannot beat batsmen with sidespin. The only way I can beat batsmen with bounce," said Varun while nursing a deserved Player-of-the-Match award. Perhaps most galling for England is he rated his display a humble "seven out of 10".
India's cleaner hands
Bethell's drop of Abhishek did not matter, charging in from deep midwicket, tracking the ball all the way only to see it spill through his hands as he dived forwards.
A ball later, Abhishek was caught at long off. An over later, India had confirmed their win. But the sight of one of England's best fielders fall short in that moment highlighted the gap between the two fielding efforts on Wednesday evening.
It would have been one hell of a take, but still not the best of the night. That honour belonged to Nitish Kumar Reddy, who pulled off a tougher version of Bethell's effort, sprinting in at a greater rate of knots and intercepting the ball so close to the ground that the umpires asked for a second look. Buttler, whose charge was halted by that brilliance, had already made it back to the dugout when the television umpire finally gave it the all-clear.
Despite playing no part with bat or ball, Reddy got plenty of airtime, taking a simpler catch to remove Jamie Overton and scurrying about the deep on a one-man mission to restrict England's boundary count. That endeavour was matched by those in the ring, with Rinku Singh setting the tone when he claimed a leading edge off Duckett that required him to sprint back from cover with one eye over his shoulder.
Of course, Bethell's drop was not even the worst off Abhishek. Rashid's was a far simpler caught and bowled chance. The legspinner was duly punished when the left-hander blitzed three boundaries - the last two sixes over midwicket, then straight down the ground - off the remainder of his over. England's heads dropped - a nod to the nourishing effect of taking your catches.
Vithushan Ehantharajah is an associate editor at ESPNcricinfo
Hurley after berating ref: Show other coaches
UConn coach Dan Hurley owned up to berating an official during Tuesday night's 80-78 win over Butler after he was caught on camera telling them "don't turn your back on me, I'm the best coach in the f---ing sport."
Hurley was complaining about what he thought was a foul on a defensive rebound attempt late in the first half. After the game, he said he was looking for more "communication" from officials.
The two-time champion coach also lodged a complaint about how often the TV cameras focus on him.
"I just wish they put the camera on the other coach more," he said. "... I just wish they would show these other coaches losing their minds at the officials in other Big East games that I'm coaching where ... I'm not talking to officials; I see the other coaches as demonstrative as I am.
"But the camera, obviously ... I've created this for myself. I'm not the victim."
UConn led by 15 at one point in the first half and had an eight-point lead at halftime. But Butler erased a nine-point deficit in the final 6:50 of regulation and took a two-point lead before Alex Karaban's jumper with 1:43 left sent the game to overtime tied at 68. The Huskies were able to pull away in the extra frame and held on for the two-point win.
UConn got off to a slow start to the season, losing three straight at one point, but has reeled off 10 wins in its past 12 games.
Weather bumps LSU-S. Carolina showdown to Fri.
The Southeastern Conference has postponed Thursday night's women's basketball game between No. 5 LSU and No. 2 South Carolina in Columbia, South Carolina, until Friday because of winter weather.
The SEC said Friday's game would tip off at 5 p.m. ET. LSU athletics officials were confident the women's basketball team would be able to fly out of Baton Rouge on Thursday.
The decision comes a day after a winter storm dropped about a foot of snow in parts of south Louisiana and made travel hazardous in subtropical communities that possess little in the way of snow-clearing equipment for roads and airports.
LSU spokesman Michael Bonnette said highways in and around Baton Rouge remained closed Wednesday, and that classes at LSU have been canceled through Thursday.
The Tigers' home game on Sunday evening against Texas A&M remains on schedule.
After breaking snow records in Texas and Louisiana on Tuesday, the storm continued to spread heavy snow, sleet and freezing rain across parts of the Florida Panhandle, Georgia and the coastal Carolinas on Wednesday.
South Carolina (18-1, 6-0 SEC) is coming off a 101-60 victory over Oklahoma on Sunday.
LSU (20-0, 5-0 SEC) is off to one of the best starts in program history and is coming off an 80-63 victory at Florida on Sunday. The 2022-23 national championship team currently owns the best start in program history at 23-0. That team's first loss came at South Carolina.
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