He became the blueprint for every Indian cricketer, and changed not just results but mindsets

Greg Chappell12-May-20254:15

Kumble: Everyone knew if Kohli goes past 20, it’s going to be a big one

Virat Kohli’s retirement from Test cricket marks the end of a thunderous era – a reign forged in grit, fire, and audacity. It closes the chapter on the most transformative figure in Indian cricket since Sachin Tendulkar; perhaps Kohli even eclipses him in terms of cultural influence and psychological impact on India’s cricketing identity.Kohli, the incandescent heart of Indian cricket for over a decade, did not just score runs. He redefined expectations, challenged conventions, and symbolised the self-assured, unapologetic India of the 21st century. His departure leaves not only a statistical void but a seismic shift in energy – for there has never been another quite like him.There was a time when Indian cricket, particularly overseas, bore an air of respectful submission – playing with technical skill, yes, but often with psychological inferiority. That changed in stages. Sourav Ganguly gave Indian cricket a new spine. MS Dhoni brought ice-cold leadership and white-ball dominance. But Kohli? Kohli lit the fire. He tore the script and authored a new one, where India was not just competitive abroad but expected to win.Related

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He was the most Australian non-Australian cricketer we’ve ever seen – a snarling warrior in whites, never giving an inch, always demanding more. Not just of his bowlers, his fielders or his opposition, but first and foremost, of himself.The two Test series that define Kohli’s legacy – and indeed his character – came in England and Australia, the most traditional arenas of cricketing greatness.In 2014, England exposed a glaring vulnerability. Anderson haunted him with late swing, and Kohli’s technique and mindset unravelled. But failure for Kohli was fertiliser. He didn’t complain. He rebuilt. He sought out his Under-19 coach Lalchand Rajput and worked obsessively to eliminate technical flaws. Tendulkar too lent advice. What emerged four years later was not just a better batter – it was a better man.His “>return to England in 2018 was the stuff of redemption mythology. In the opening Test, at Edgbaston, Kohli produced a sublime 149 – forged in defiance, patience, and mastery over conditions that once crippled him. The second-innings fifty was no less valuable. Across five Tests, he amassed 593 runs at 59.30, the leading run-scorer by a long stretch. The ghosts were not only exorcised, they were humiliated.If England was redemption, Australia in 2018-19 was a coronation. India had never won a Test series in Australia. Kohli, now captain, led a team that believed it could – and did. Though Cheteshwar Pujara was the hero statistically, Kohli’s 123 in Perth on a devilish pitch was an innings for the ages. It was Test cricket in its rawest form – discipline, fight, elegance, and grit. India won 2-1, and in doing so, buried decades of inferiority.

He trained not just his body but his imagination. Where others reacted, Kohli anticipated. He saw innings before they unfolded. He lived the pressure before it arrived

No Indian captain had ever marshalled a team to such commanding overseas dominance. And no batter since Tendulkar had so unequivocally ruled in every continent.Kohli’s greatest innings have been more than runs – they have been statements. His 141 in Adelaide in 2014, in his first Test as captain, chasing a monumental fourth-innings target, was an early blueprint. The 153 in Centurion (2018), the 200 in the West Indies in 2016, and the exquisite 254 not out at home against South Africa three years later, all told different stories of his abilities.He was a “feel” player, relying on immaculate timing rather than brute strength. Heavy bats didn’t interest him. Instead, he brought a two-handed, almost tennis-like aggression to slower pitches, making straight-batted drives look like power strokes from another dimension. He rarely needed innovation – no scoops or reverse sweeps. His genius lay in classical orthodoxy applied with gladiatorial will.2:10

Williamson: ‘Kohli had unrelenting drive to push the boundaries of Test cricket’

Kohli’s mental preparation was legendary. After every setback, whether personal or professional, he went away and returned harder, leaner, more complete. His father’s death during a Ranji match in 2006 remains a defining moment. He didn’t withdraw. He batted and scored 90 in a back-to-the-wall innings – because that’s what his father would have wanted.He spoke candidly in later years about visualising hostile conditions, hostile crowds and hostile spells before every overseas tour. He trained not just his body but his imagination. That is Kohli’s true superpower. Where others reacted, Kohli anticipated. He saw innings before they unfolded. He lived the pressure before it arrived.And in the cauldron of global scrutiny, with a billion people watching his every move, Kohli taught himself to breathe. As he once said: “If I focus on all that, I can’t breathe. I have to focus on what I can do.”Kohli burst onto the scene as a brash, chest-thumping U-19 World Cup-winning captain in 2008. Some wondered whether the strut outpaced the substance.The Australia series of 2014-15, Kohli first as captain, was one of his highest points. He made 692 runs at an average of over 86•Getty ImagesHe made mistakes, no doubt. But when the wake-up call came – particularly after a dip in discipline and lifestyle early in his career – he turned brutally honest with himself. He revamped everything: diet, training, mindset. In doing so, Kohli became the blueprint for the modern Indian cricketer – relentlessly professional, obsessively fit, and mentally ironclad.His evolution mirrored that of India itself – no longer content to play the supporting act. Confident, global, yet deeply connected to its roots. His global stardom ran parallel to the rise of the IPL, yet he never let the glitz distract from his Test ambitions. He made white-ball cricket his domain without sacrificing a drop of red-ball purity.Yes, Tendulkar was a genius. Yes, Dhoni was a master tactician and an ice-cold finisher. But in the grand reckoning of Indian cricket history, Kohli has been its most influential figure.Why? Because he changed not just results but mindsets.He demanded excellence. He made fast bowling India’s weapon. He brought the yo-yo test into the cultural lexicon. He backed his bowlers, he stood up to bullies, and he never played for second place. He wanted Test cricket to thrive and knew that for India to be respected, they needed to dominate the hardest format.With his emotions on display for the world to see, Kohli became an icon for an India that was not content to be a support act•Getty Images and Cricket AustraliaHis public defence of Steve Smith during the 2019 World Cup, when he urged Indian fans to stop booing, was a statesman’s act. The hot-headed kid had become cricket’s conscience.As Kohli exits the Test arena, he leaves behind not just a glittering record – over 9000 runs, 30 centuries, historic wins overseas – but a blueprint for how to play the game with heart, with hunger, and with unyielding pride.He was polarising, yes. But so is every revolutionary.He walked with a swagger, often spoke too loudly, always played too hard. And in doing so, he became the icon of an India no longer content to play supporting roles. He was a beacon to Indians everywhere, a cricketing colossus from the subcontinent striding across Lord’s, Adelaide, Centurion and Kolkata with the same fearless heartbeat.In every sense of the word, King Kohli reigned – and his influence will be felt long after the roar has faded.All hail the King. And thank you, Virat, for making us believe that domination and dignity could walk together.

Big names are missing due to the Asia Cup and India A’s multi-day series against Australia A

Ashish Pant10-Sep-2025

Big picture: Big names missing in final

With a host of big names either playing the Asia Cup or getting ready for India A’s red-ball series against Australia A, the Duleep Trophy 2025-26 final at the BCCI Centre of Excellence in Bengaluru is expected to be a low-key affair. Both South Zone and Central Zone have brought in reinforcements after their respective semi-finals.Central Zone have made four changes, with Vidarbha seamer Nachiket Bhute, Madhya Pradesh’s Kumar Kartikeya and Kuldeep Sen, and Rajasthan’s left-arm spinner Kukna Ajay Singh getting into the mix. They come in for Yash Thakur, Harsh Dubey, Khaleel Ahmed and Manav Suthar, who have departed for the four-day series against Australia A in Lucknow.South Zone, meanwhile, have brought in Karnataka’s R Smaran and Tamil Nadu’s C Andre Siddarth in place of Devdutt Padikkal and N Jagadeesan.Related

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• Danish Malewar's bright start and big ambitions

Central Zone’s batting looks formidable. Three of the four highest run-scorers in the tournament belong to them: Danish Malewar (294), Rajat Patidar (268) and Shubham Sharma (252). The bowling, however, is severely depleted, with four of their frontliners out of the final.The onus will be on offspinner Saransh Jain, who got a match haul of 8 for 205, and, with that, the Player-of-the-Match award in the semi-final against West Zone, to continue his form. Central Zone will also hope for Deepak Chahar to get back among the wickets. The seamer has had a lukewarm Duleep Trophy so far – two wickets in three innings at 58 – and hasn’t found much movement with the new ball.South Zone have an inexperienced batting unit, and will bank on Tanmay Agarwal, Ricky Bhui and captain Mohammed Azharuddeen to get some runs. The bowlers, led by quick Gurjapneet Singh, were impressive in the semi-final against North Zone, and will hope to continue their wicket-taking form.Central Zone have only played at Ground B, which has a black-soil pitch, while South Zone have previous experience of playing at Ground A, which will host the final, and has a red-soil pitch. Both teams dominated their respective semi-finals, qualifying by virtue of a first-innings lead.The Duleep Trophy final will be live streamed on the JioHotstar app.Rajat Patidar has a strike rate of 106.34 in the Duleep Trophy this season•PTI

In the spotlight: Rajat Patidar and Mohammed Azharuddeen

With scores of 125, 66 and 77, Rajat Patidar has been in impressive form in the Duleep Trophy. He is third on the run charts, while his strike rate of 106.34 is the highest for any batter to have played more than six balls in the tournament. Patidar’s captaincy has also stood out in both games, but with many of his frontline bowlers missing, it will be tested in the final.South Zone captain Mohammed Azharuddeen missed out on an excellent batting pitch in the semi-final. He will want to make amends. Azharuddeen, who will also keep wicket with Jagadeesan away, had a terrific Ranji Trophy 2024-25, scoring 635 runs at 70.55 in Kerala’s run to the final. He also entered the Duleep Trophy on the back of a decent Kerala Cricket League, where he recorded 253 runs in eight innings.

Team news: Central’s new bowlers

South Zone could send Shaik Rasheed to open alongside Tanmay, while Smaran could come into the middle order. Salman Nizar was struck on the knee during the semi-final, and had to be carried to the dugout. If he fails to recover in time, they could bring Siddarth into the XI.South Zone (probable): 1 Shaik Rasheed, 2 Tanmay Agarwal, 3 Mohit Kale, 4 R Smaran, 5 Ricky Bhui (vice-capt), 6 C Andre Siddarth/Salman Nizar, 7 Mohammed Azharuddeen (capt, wk), 8 Tanay Thyagarajan, 9 Gurjapneet Singh, 10 Vasuki Koushik, 11 MD NidheeshDeepak Chahar has two wickets at an average of 58 in this season’s Duleep Trophy•PTI

Central Zone are unlikely to tinker with their batting order, but will have to field almost a fresh bowling unit. While Chahar is likely to hold on to his place, Kartikeya, Kuldeep and Aditya Thakare could all come into the side.Central Zone (probable): 1 Aayush Pandey, 2 Danish Malewar, 3 Shubham Sharma, 4 Rajat Patidar (capt), 5 Yash Rathod, 6 Upendra Yadav (wk), 7 Aditya Thakare, 8 Saransh Jain, 9 Deepak Chahar, 10 Kumar Kartikeya, 11 Kuldeep Sen

Pitch and conditions: Runs galore

The surface at Ground A has been excellent for batting. Neither of the two Duleep Trophy games played there had a fourth innings, with only 45 wickets falling across the quarter-final and the semi-final. According to the weather forecast, there could be a mix of cloudy skies and rain showers throughout the five days of the final.

Quotes

“There was something for the fast bowlers, especially when they were hitting the seam – it was moving in and out. But we need to be really patient for that one ball. We know that it is a flat wicket, but we also know that there will be something in between.

Unsurprisingly, Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi were recently named as the world’s two highest-paid footballers by Forbes, and the two legendary forwards have amassed mind-boggling net worths across their careers.

Ronaldo recently became the first current player to achieve billionaire status, having earned £1.04bn through wages, endorsements, investments and sponsorship deals, while Messi has managed to amass a stunning €598m (£527m), given long-term deals with Adidas, Apple, and Konami.

Such numbers are perhaps to be expected, given that the former La Liga stars, who are widely regarded as the two best players of all-time, have won a combined 13 Ballon d’Ors between them, but a player who had a more modest career, at least in comparison, has managed to make over double their combined net worth.

Ex-Man Utd star Louis Saha's net worth revealed

As reported by Manchester Evening News, Louis Saha has managed to build up a whopping £4.3bn fortune since retiring from football following a brief spell with Lazio back in 2013, accumulating his wealth after founding his sports company AxisStars.

The platform, which connects athletes and entertainers with trusted companies, was founded not long after Saha called time on his career, and it has clearly been hugely successful, given the vast riches the former Manchester United star has been able to amass.

Although the Frenchman did not reach the dizzy heights of the likes of Ronaldo and Messi, he also had a career to be proud of, scoring 84 Premier League goals across spells with Fulham, Man United, Tottenham Hotspur, Newcastle United, Everton and Sunderland.

The 20-time France international was also named among Everton’s greatest strikers in the Premier League era, courtesy of scoring 34 goals in 115 matches across all competitions for the Toffees.

During that time, the former striker scored what was the fastest goal in FA Cup final history at the time, until the record was broken by ex-Man City star Ilkay Gundogan, who found the back of the net after just 11 seconds in the 2023 final against United.

However, what the 47-year-old has gone on to achieve post-football is arguably even more impressive, having amassed a higher net worth than the vast majority of former players, albeit his riches still pale in comparison to that of Leicester City flop Faiq Bolkiah.

That said, rather than being born into wealth, Saha is well-known to come from a working-class background, with his mother a nurse and his father an aircraft mechanic, meaning money was tight growing up, which makes the former Everton man’s unbelievable success even more impressive.

Celebrity Traitors star Joe Marler stunned by footballers' wages

Celebrity Traitors star Joe Marler stunned by footballers' wages

Marler was more surprised than at Jonathan Ross’ traitor reveal.

By
Ben Goodwin

Nov 3, 2025

There are plenty of reasons for Chelsea fans to be very optimistic at the moment.

Yes, the performances have been a little inconsistent, and the transfers haven’t all worked out, but Enzo Maresca has a squad full of incredible players.

For example, Moises Caicedo, Cole Palmer, and even Reece James, now that he has overcome his injury problems, can all be counted among the best in the world in their respective positions.

Moreover, there is now another gem in the side who could surpass them all to become the outright best in the world.

Reece James' resurgence

So, the first thing to say is that nobody worth listening to has ever questioned James’ innate ability, nor his place among the best full-backs in world football on that ability alone.

Chalkboard

Football FanCast’s Chalkboard series presents a tactical discussion from around the global game.

However, as the saying goes, availability is the best ability, and for a significant portion of the last few years, that has been something that has gone against him.

For example, while he managed to make 26 league appearances in the 21/22 season, he made just 45 over the following three campaigns.

This inability to remain fit and make a significant number of appearances every year was something often held against him when it came down to conversations over who the best right-back was in the country.

However, so far this season has been a different story entirely, as he has not missed a single match due to injury and has played all 11 league games, seven from the start.

In addition to simply being present, the Englishman has also once again reminded rival fans that, at his best, he is capable of things most full-backs couldn’t even dream of doing.

For example, he already has three goal involvements to his name, along with some seriously impressive underlying numbers.

Total Passing Distance

1163.65

Top 1%

Pass Completion % (Short)

94.9%

Top 1%

Passes Completed (Medium)

28.05

Top 1%

xA: Expected Assists

0.19

Top 1%

Passes into Final Third

6.35

Top 1%

Interceptions

1.90

Top 1%

Touches (Mid 3rd)

45.57

Top 1%

Goals + Assists

0.38

Top 4%

xAG: Exp. Assisted Goals

0.23

Top 4%

Progressive Passes

6.60

Top 4%

Passes Completed

65.75

Top 4%

Passes Attempted

77.43

Top 4%

Passes Attempted (Medium)

31.61

Top 4%

Passes Completed (Long)

6.09

Top 4%

Live-ball Passes

63.85

Top 4%

Through Balls

0.51

Top 4%

Switches

0.63

Top 4%

Corner Kicks

2.79

Top 4%

SCA (Dead-ball Pass)

0.89

Top 4%

SCA (Defensive Action)

0.13

Top 4%

Touches

87.84

Top 4%

Touches (Live-Ball)

87.84

Top 4%

Carries

51.41

Top 4%

According to FBref, he ranks in the top 1% of full-backs for total passing distance, expected assists, passes into the final third and interceptions, the top 4% for goals plus assists and more, all per 90.

In all, now that he’s staying fit, it’s undeniable that James is one of the best right-backs in the world, and if that isn’t enough, another young talent Chelsea have signed looks like he could become one of the best players in the world outright.

Chelsea's future world-beater

The likes of Caicedo and Palmer might be pushing for the title of best in the world, but based on raw talent and what those in the know say about him, Dastan Satpayev could surpass both.

Chelsea signed the incredibly exciting prospect from the Kazakhstani side Kairat Almaty in February of this year for a fee of around €4m, which is about £3.5m.

Yet, as he’s still just 17 years old, he is not allowed to join up with the club until next season.

The Kazakh wonderkid may not be particularly well-known to fans in England, but he is regarded by many as a seriously significant prospect.

For example, one analyst with extensive knowledge of Kazakhstani football has been bold enough to describe the teenager as “a future Ballon d’Or winner.”

Yet, if that wasn’t encouraging enough, he has also been dubbed “a future rival to Lamine Yamal,” or in other words, someone who will vie for the title of the world’s best as he gets older.

With that said, what about him has people so excited? First of all, despite turning 17 in the summer, the dynamic forward made 29 first-team appearances last season, totalling 2081 minutes, in which he scored 15 goals and provided seven assists.

That comes out to an average of a goal involvement every 1.31 games, or every 94.59 minutes, which would be an incredible rate of return for a seasoned veteran.

Then, this season he has already made 11 appearances in the Champions League, seven of which were in the qualifying rounds and the other four in the competition proper.

In other words, the youngster is not only producing in the league but is also gaining a tremendous amount of experience in club football’s biggest competition.

Ultimately, it is early on in his career, but Satpayev is already looking like an excellent player, and if those in the know are right, he could become the world’s best at Chelsea.

Chelsea join Daniel Munoz race as Crystal Palace star reveals true "dream" move

The Blues know all about his quality.

ByTom Cunningham Nov 10, 2025

His undefeated knock of 76 comes in resilient batting display by Northants

ECB Reporters Network supported by Rothesay09-Sep-2025Saif Zaib shone again with an undefeated knock of 76 as Northamptonshire’s resilient batting display held up Glamorgan’s Rothesay County Championship promotion charge at Wantage Road.The left-hander, Division Two’s second highest run-scorer this season with five hundreds to his name, shared a fourth-wicket stand of 107 with James Sales to steer their side close to avoiding the follow-on despite four wickets for Glamorgan spinner Mason Crane.Half-centuries by opening pair Ricardo Vasconcelos and Luke Procter laid solid foundations for Northamptonshire’s reply after Glamorgan opener Asa Tribe’s impressive career-best 206 had enabled the visitors to post 467.Seventeen-year-old spinner Nirvan Ramesh picked up the last two Glamorgan wickets to finish with figures of 3 for 42 on his first-class debut.Resuming on 367 for 6, Glamorgan increased their total by exactly 100 during the morning, with Tribe flicking Justin Broad off his hips for four to complete his maiden double hundred from 293 balls.But the 21-year-old was undone in the next over by a ball from Procter (3 for 89) that kept low and careered into his off stump, breaking a seventh-wicket partnership of 83 with Timm van der Gugten.The latter was pinned leg before for 33 by Calvin Harrison two balls later, but Crane went on the offensive, steering both Procter and Liam Guthrie to the fence as he and James Harris added exactly 50.With Crane’s first half-century of the campaign on the horizon, he was left stranded on 41 as Ramesh mopped up the innings, trapping Harris lbw on the back foot before having last man Asitha Fernando caught off a top edge.That left Northamptonshire’s openers with a single over to negotiate prior to lunch and, having ticked off that immediate target, they set about making inroads on their side’s hefty deficit.Although Harris and Fernando beat the bat a couple of times, the opening pair looked largely secure and Vasconcelos lifted Van der Gugten over the short midwicket boundary for six.Outscoring his partner, Vasconcelos banged Fernando through the covers for four and then posted his half-century from 66 balls – only to surrender his wicket in the next over, clipping Zain ul Hassan straight to midwicket.Harrison, back at Wantage Road for his fifth short-term loan from Nottinghamshire this season, upped the tempo by dispatching Ul Hassan for two leg-side sixes and looked strong off the back foot, punching a series of cover boundaries in his brisk 30.Meanwhile Procter took on Crane, sweeping the legspinner for six and then – having survived an appeal for a leg-side catch – danced down the track for a straight-driven four that took him to 50.However, Crane removed both established batters in the run-up to tea, with Harrison well taken at slip off an outside edge before Procter followed in his next over for 67, prodding to short backward square.Timing and placing his shots beautifully, Zaib flayed three consecutive Crane deliveries to the rope and progressed to his fifth half-century of the campaign while Sales capitalised on a chance to slip that Ingram spilled.Returning for a third spell late in the day, Crane got his man when Sales fell for 35, pumping a full toss to cover and added a fourth wicket by having Broad caught behind from the final delivery of the session.

ITV confirmed earlier this month that it is in preliminary discussions to sell its broadcasting business to Sky for £1.6 billion. The talks come as the television industry faces fierce competition from the rise of streaming services such as Disney+, Prime Video and Netflix. The former platforms already own rights to show one Champions League and one La Liga match per gameweek.

Sky-ITV merger could impact how fans watch football

However, one finance expert believes the main concern should be the loss of free-to-air sport. ITV hold the rights for some England and World Cup games, and the worry is that users may one day have to pay for the opportunity to watch the national team, either in qualifiers or at major international competitions.

"The World Cup is currently locked into listed-event regulation, keeping prices relatively low because rights must remain free-to-air," finance expert Professor Rob Wilson told OLBG. "Should free-to-air erode and regulatory protections weaken, a very different market emerges. A largely exclusive World Cup becomes a quadrennial subscriber magnet with huge advertising and digital potential.

"Under those conditions UK rights might land in the £350 to £500 million range at the cautious end, rising toward £750 million to £1 billion if full exclusivity and deep digital rights are included. That would make the tournament comparable to a significant slice of Premier League value, something only possible if it moves away from the current BBC-ITV sharing model."

AdvertisementAFP'For Match of the Day, the threat is less direct but still real'

Wilson went on to add the free-to-air shows like Match of the Day may come under threat. While the BBC's weekly Premier League highlights show doesn't actively show domestic top-flight action live, it's still at risk of being unable to fulfil demand owing to potential financial constraints down the line.

"For shows like Match of the Day, the threat is less direct but still real," Wilson added. "The BBC would be facing a competitor with extraordinary reach across both pay and free platforms. That pushes up prices and makes it harder to retain highlight packages without paying more. In the long run it could shift the balance between free and paid access to top tier sport.

"A Sky and ITV combination would become the most influential force in British broadcast advertising. Buying strategies would change. Cross platform packages would grow. And the line between broadcast and streaming would blur even further as the combined business pushes its viewers into unified ecosystems."

'A Sky–ITV merger would push major football rights upward'

Furthermore, Wilson discussed the astronomical value of the UK sports market, adding: "The UK sports rights market today is roughly £3 to £3.5 billion annually, with the Premier League and Champions League forming its core.

"A Sky–ITV merger would push major football rights upward, while expanded competitions and tech-sector interest would accelerate growth. It is reasonable to see the market reaching £4.5 to £7 billion a year by the mid-2030s.

"For Amazon, Netflix, YouTube or Apple, participation is less about direct profit and more about acquiring customers. Each could justify spending £200 to £500 million annually on UK rights as a strategic foothold, with total disruption capital potentially exceeding a billion pounds a year if multiple platforms compete simultaneously."

Wilson continued: "ITV's channels would remain free to air because their public service obligations would transfer. But over time, the strategy would change. Expect more cross promotion between free and paid services, more sport moving into premium windows and more rights carved into layered offerings.

"In short, this deal would be hugely significant in the medium term. If it happens, it would reshape how rights are bought, how audiences are reached and how sport and entertainment flow between free and paid screens across the UK. It might even start an acceleration away from free to air programming as we know it."

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Getty Images SportPremier League & UCL rights would increase

Wilson also discussed the potential of the costs of Premier League and Champions League rights increasing should the ITV-Sky merger come to fruition. "A combined Sky and ITV would be a powerful buyer," he added. "Sky already controls much of the premium sport in the UK and adding ITV's free to air channels gives it both reach and versatility. It could bid for major rights with more confidence, and it could spread those rights across subscription, streaming and free to air platforms in ways no other British broadcaster can match.

"Premier League rights currently sit at around £1.7 billion per season, with the Champions League adding roughly another £450 to £500 million. A combined Sky and ITV would be able to monetise rights across pay TV, streaming and free to air in a way no rival could match, reducing competitive pressure and giving them licence to bid more aggressively.

"In that environment Premier League rights could plausibly rise toward the £2 to £2.3 billion range per season in the early 2030s, while Champions League rights might move into the £600 to £750 million band. Together, the two properties could command between £2.6 and just over £3 billion per year, implying an uplift of around £0.5-£1billion on the current level."