Category: Sports

Years before Ferran Torres scored Spain’s FIFA World Cup 2026-winning goal, it was India who caught the first glimpse of the forward’s talent.

Ferran Torres has etched himself into FIFA World Cup folklore. A powerful, left-footed strike into the net in the 106th minute has earned him immortality. The world will forever remember him as the man who scored the winning goal to make Spain world champions for the second time. The 26-year-old forward plays his club football at FC Barcelona, and now boasts the two biggest international trophies in his cabinet. But what few know is that Ferran Torres, Spain’s FIFA World Cup 2026 hero, holds a special connection with India.

How India Saw Ferran Torres First

Nearly nine years before his glorious winning goal in the World Cup final, Ferran Torres – as a fresh-faced 17-year-old – had set foot in India, where he helped Spain to silver at the FIFA U17 World Cup in 2017.

Ferran, a part of Valencia’s academy at the time, was one of the star players of Spain’s highly-talented squad. Playing mostly as a right-winger in Spain’s side, Ferran contributed two goals and two assists in Spain’s run to the final. He also started Spain’s 5-2 defeat to England in the final.

Long before Ferran scored the goal that left Lionel Messi in tears, the first glimpses of his mercurial talent was seen at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in Kochi and the Vivekananda Yuba Bharati Krirangan in Kolkata.

Spain’s World Cup-winning class of 2026 features one more player who made his first impressions on Indian soil. Centre-back Eric Garcia, a teammate of Ferran’s at Barcelona, was also part of the Spain U17 team that toured India. Eric played 21 minutes in the FIFA World Cup 2026 final against Argentina.

How Ferran Torres Earned Immortality

Ferran Torres is often a much-maligned figure at club level due to his inconsistency in front of goal. However, qualities of his that cannot be doubted are his positioning and link-up play.

In the World Cup final, Ferran was at the right place at the right time to hammer home a left-footed half-volley into the roof of the net in the 106th minute. As Nico Williams’ header hit the post, Torres reacted to the rebound in a flash.

This time, his finish was perfect.

Source : https://sports.ndtv.com/fifa-world-cup-2026/india-saw-him-first-how-ferran-torres-spains-fifa-world-cup-final-hero-has-a-special-link-to-india-11793705?pfrom=home-ndtv_fifa

It was heartbreak for Argentina. Ferran Torres scored a dramatic extra-time winner as Spain defeated holders Argentina 1-0 to win the World Cup on Sunday and shatter Lionel Messi’s dreams of a triumphant farewell to football’s greatest stage

It was heartbreak for Argentina. Ferran Torres scored a dramatic extra-time winner as Spain defeated holders Argentina 1-0 to win the World Cup on Sunday and shatter Lionel Messi’s dreams of a triumphant farewell to football’s greatest stage. Barcelona striker Torres lashed home a thumping finish in the 106th minute to reward a dominant display by Spain against an Argentina team who failed to register a single shot on target in 120 minutes.

A star-studded crowd of 80,663 that included US President Donald Trump packed East Rutherford’s MetLife Stadium to see if Argentina captain Messi could crown his glittering career with a second World Cup victory.

But the 39-year-old maestro — almost certainly playing in his final World Cup game — was reduced to irrelevance as Spain took control early on against an Argentina team who committed cynical fouls throughout.

The South Americans’ skulduggery ended with midfielder Enzo Fernandez being sent off after a brutal challenge on Spain defender Pau Cubarsi in stoppage time.

Shortly after the match ended, Argentina star Lionel Messi was sitting on the field as Spain players celebrated. He then got up when 19-year-old Spain forward Lamine Yamal approached him and they shared a handshake and a hug.

LA PELEA DEL FINAL 🇦🇷🇪🇸

▶ Leandro Paredes fue a buscar los jugadores de España en el final del partido

🎥 _jsm44 pic.twitter.com/C3xbxhS1pP

— Diario Olé (@DiarioOle) July 19, 2026

Leandro Paredes exclu après la finale de la Coupe du monde pour un violent accrochage avec Gavi

➡️ https://t.co/rhJW9I5oS9 pic.twitter.com/6f6XZVTohj

— L’Équipe (@lequipe) July 19, 2026

🚨🛑 Leandro Paredes got a red card after fights with Gavi and Eric Garcia after final whistle. pic.twitter.com/NP6UPkNh4K

— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) July 19, 2026

Argentina coach Lionel Scaloni was held back by a Spain player while appearing to shout at someone moments after the final whistle. Leandro Paredes also shoved Spain’s Eric Garcia and Gavi, and Nicolas Otamendi exchanged words with a few Spanish players, including Rodri. Paredes was given red card.

For long periods though it looked as if Argentina may somehow hold on for a penalty shoot-out as Spain struggled to make the breakthrough.

But after Nico Williams had a goal controversially disallowed in extra-time, Spain struck.

Source : https://sports.ndtv.com/fifa-world-cup-2026/lionel-messis-teammate-leandro-pardes-grabs-spain-stars-neck-sent-off-after-end-of-final-brawl-video-11793701

 

 

Donald Trump became the centre of an awkward moment in the presentation ceremony due to his seeming reluctance to leave the podium after handing the FIFA World Cup 2026 trophy to Spain captain Rodri.

Donald Trump craves attention, and it is an open secret. At the FIFA World Cup 2026 final ceremony, the President of the United States of America tried his best to remain in the frame, and he even succeeded to some extent as Spain celebrated their title triumph on the podium. After handing over the World Cup trophy to Spain captain Rodri, Trump took his time exiting the camera frame. At first, he was subtly nudged to move aside by Rodri, but the situation escalated to the point that even FIFA President Gianni Infantino had to intervene and guide Trump away.

The incident became quite an awkward one, as it looked as though Trump wanted to be a part of the World Cup final celebrations on the podium alongside Spain. Rodri looked quite uncomfortable with Trump’s presence and nudged him to clear the area.

However, Trump still took a considerable amount of time to move aside, delaying the Spanish team’s celebrations on the podium. In the end, Infantino decided to hold Trump by his arm and lead him to the corner of the podium. Even then, Trump stood right next to the last Spanish player, refusing to move aside completely.

Source : https://sports.ndtv.com/fifa-world-cup-2026/donald-trump-makes-spain-awkward-by-refusing-to-leave-world-cup-podium-fifa-chief-intervenes-11793805

Spain teenage sensation Lamine Yamal got a fresh haircut ahead of the FIFA World Cup 2026 final against England.

Spain teenage sensation Lamine Yamal got a fresh haircut ahead of the FIFA World Cup 2026 final against England. While players changing their looks for matches is quite a common thing, what caught everyone’s attention was the fact that the barber arrived for the trim in a Rolls-Royce. Bryan Guardado, who is a famous figure in the dynamic art form in the United States, has been in charge of the Spain national team this summer. The 22-year-old arrived at the team hotel on Friday, and the video of his entry is going viral on social media.

In the surfaced clip, Guardado can be seen getting out of a Rolls-Royce and then giving a haircut to Yamal. The famous barber also gets a signed jersey from the star Spain footballer.

Argentina captain Lionel Messi praised Yamal ahead of the FIFA World Cup 2026 final, calling him an “amazing” player while saying Argentina will do everything possible to prevent him from achieving a historic milestone.

In a post shared by ESPN FC on X, Messi said he has closely followed Yamal’s progress because of the youngster’s performances for Barcelona, a club the Argentine legend represented for nearly two decades.

“Lamine is truly amazing, and I’ve followed him a lot because he plays for a club I love so much. He has a chance to achieve something historic, and we’re going to try to make sure that doesn’t happen this time,” Messi said.

Defending champions Argentina secured a thrilling 2-1 comeback win over England in the semi-final, overturning a first-half deficit, with Enzo Fernandez scoring the equaliser before Lautaro Martinez netted the stoppage-time winner to send the defending champions into the title clash against Spain.

The win over England sent Argentina into the World Cup 2026 final, while England’s hopes of reaching their first World Cup final since 1966 came to a heartbreaking end.

Spain, on the other hand, secured a place in the FIFA World Cup final for the first time since their 2010 triumph after defeating France 2-0 with a composed performance. Yamal played a key role in the win, winning a penalty after dispossessing Lucas Digne, which Mikel Oyarzabal converted in the 22nd minute to give Spain the lead.

Source : https://sports.ndtv.com/fifa-world-cup-2026/lamine-yamals-barber-arrives-in-rolls-royce-to-give-him-new-look-before-fifa-world-cup-2026-final-11788926

After their 2-1 win over England in FIFA World Cup 2026 semi-final, some Argentine players came up with a controversial celebration. They held up a banner that read: “Las Malvinas son Argentinas (The Falklands are Argentine).”

Argentina registered a comeback 2-1 victory over England in the second semi-final of the FIFA World Cup 2026 in Atlanta, United States. After their sensational win, some Argentine players came up with a controversial celebration. They held up a banner that read: “Las Malvinas son Argentinas (The Falklands are Argentine).” This was the second time that Argentina’s players had raised this controversial issue during the ongoing World Cup. A few days before this, they had sung a chant referencing the Falklands in the wake of their 3-2 victory over Egypt in the round of 16.

While the banner displayed by the Argentine players triggered huge controversy, the White House has defended them. When asked about the players waving the controversial banner, Andrew Giuliani, the head of the White House FIFA Task Force, said on Friday that the team had the opportunity and ability to “make those statements” in the US, reported BBC.

“We believe in our First Amendment rights here in the United States of America,” Giuliani said.

FIFA, football’s world governing body, has launched an investigation into the controversial banner displayed by Argentina’s players after their win over England regarding the disputed Falkland Islands, which caused a war between the two countries a few decades ago.

The apex football body launched the probe after the Falkland Islands Government described the banner displayed by members of the Argentina team following their win against England as ‘insensitive’, according to reports in the English media.

A statement from the UK Government issued on Thursday morning reiterated: “The World Cup might not be ours, but the Falkland Islands definitely are.”

“As is standard procedure, FIFA’s independent Disciplinary Committee is currently assessing the match reports and considering the relevant circumstances before deciding on potential further steps,” FIFA responded to the controversy.

Source : https://sports.ndtv.com/fifa-world-cup-2026/us-government-official-reacts-to-argentinas-falklands-banner-celebration-row-at-fifa-world-cup-2026-11788087?pfrom=home-ndtv_fifa

Former Indian cricket team batter Mohammed Kaif weighed in on the chatter surrounding Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli’s futures with the 2027 ODI World Cup in focus.

Former Indian cricket team batter Mohammed Kaif weighed in on the chatter surrounding Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli’s futures with the 2027 ODI World Cup in focus. Kaif said that the duo’s experience could be crucial for India when it comes to the tournament. The debate over the veteran stars’ positions grabbed the spotlight after reports emerged that Rohit could be phased out of the team keeping the World Cup in mind. However, BCCI secretary Devajit Saikia dismissed rumors that the series against England would be Rohit’s last for the national team. During a discussion on Cricbuzz, Kaif argued that India cannot afford to overlook the experience of Rohit and Virat when tackling conditions in South Africa.

“The 2027 phase will be very important. People are talking about Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma because it won’t be an easy World Cup. The conditions will be different, there will be bouncy pitches, and India will need both these players there. We would definitely want them to play as many matches as possible from now on and remain in good form,” Kaif said.

Kaif went on to compare Rohit and Virat’s importance to that of Argentina football team superstar Lionel Messi.

“Lionel Messi is 39 years old and his team has reached the FIFA World Cup final. He didn’t score in the semifinal but provided an assist. That’s what experience brings. When you have younger players who can finish the job, experienced players know how to guide them and create opportunities. So just like Messi is for Argentina, Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma are for India in the World Cup,” he said.

Source : https://sports.ndtv.com/cricket/lionel-messi-namedropped-in-big-verdict-on-rohit-sharma-virat-kohlis-future-people-are-talking-11787293?pfrom=home-ndtv_topstories

France striker Kylian Mbappe became the World Cup’s all-time leading scorer ​with 22 goals when he netted twice ‌in Les Bleus’ 6-4 defeat by England in the third-place game on Saturday.

The 27-year-old leapfrogged Argentina’s Lionel Messi (21), who ​is due to play in Sunday’s final ​against Spain, and although that will almost certainly ⁠be his rival’s last World Cup game, Mbappe ​will probably play in at least one more ​global tournament.

Mbappe finished his third World Cup campaign with 10 goals to the lead the Golden Boot standings, two ahead ​of Messi.

The Real Madrid forward managed the feat ​in 22 appearances, scoring four goals in 2018 and eight ‌in ⁠2022 as France reached both finals, beating Croatia and losing to Argentina four years ago.

“Messi is going to score (on Sunday), that’s for sure. I’m just ​trying to ​help my ⁠team win. When you score a lot of goals at the World Cup, ​it puts you in a certain category,” ​Mbappe ⁠said.

“I would have preferred not to be the all-time top scorer and to be playing tomorrow’s match. ⁠It’s ​good in terms of legacy, ​but today it’s not the first thing on my mind.”

Source : https://www.reuters.com/sports/soccer/frances-mbappe-becomes-world-cup-all-time-top-scorer-2026-07-18

This comes after reports emerged that the series-decider against England could be Rohit Sharma’s swansong, sparking retirement talks on social media among fans and experts alike.

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) secretary Devajit Saikia has revealed that India’s third and final ODI against England at Lord’s won’t be Rohit Sharma’s last for the team in the format. This comes after reports emerged that the series-decider could be Rohit’s swansong, sparking retirement talks on social media among fans and experts alike. However, the secretary has made it clear that the 39-year-old will continue to play as long as he is in the scheme of things.

“There are lot of speculations going on in media about Rohit Sharma’s future. I want to firmly assert that there has been no such discussion that Rohit will be playing his last match at Lord’s on Sunday,” Saikia told PTI in an exclusive interaction.

“Rohit is a regular member of the Indian ODI team and he will continue to represent the country as long as he is in the scheme of things. In other words, Lord’s ODI wont be his last match.”

Despite Rohit’s publicly stated desire to play until the 2027 ODI World Cup, his modest returns in the first two matches of the series — scores of 11 and 26 — have fuelled the debate.

After India’s defeat to England in the second ODI in Cardiff, batting coach Sitanshu Kotak said that while it is true that Rohit has not got runs in the first couple of matches, he is too good a player to be put under pressure over his future.

“See, I don’t think a big player like Rohit Sharma can have any sort of pressure. He’s too good a player to feel that. Yes, he didn’t get runs in the opening two matches, but I don’t think that makes any difference. But today, it also looked like he’d probably get a good innings going. But that’s okay,” Kotak told the media in the post-match press conference.

Several reports had claimed that head coach Gautam Gambhir and Agarkar are on the same page that Virat Kohli is an automatic choice given his form and fitness but not Rohit.

Source: https://sports.ndtv.com/england-vs-india-2026/bcci-breaks-silence-amid-rohit-sharmas-retirement-buzz-after-england-odis-11786367

Garry Sobers was born with two extra fingers — one on each hand. He removed them himself as a boy, using catgut and a sharp knife.

Sobers would go on to become the most complete cricketer to play the game. A graceful and destructive left-handed batsman, a left-arm bowler equally skilled at delivering pace and spin, and a brilliant fielder in any position, Sobers was named one of the five ​leading cricketers of the 20th century by the sport’s Wisden Almanack.

He came second only to prolific Australian batsman Don Bradman, who himself said of the player in 1988: “I’ve got no hesitation at ‌all in saying that Garry Sobers is the greatest all-round cricketer I ever saw.”

Reflecting on his achievements, Sobers often played down the importance of his natural talent. “People call me a genius. I don’t know much about geniuses,” he said late in his life.

“But I do believe that what I achieved was not just because of the ability that I was born with but also because I worked hard.”
He has died aged 89, West Indies Cricket announced on Friday. No cause was given.

‘LILLIPUTIAN CRICKET’

Garfield St Aubrun Sobers was born in St ​Michael, Barbados, on July 28, 1936, the fifth of six children of Shamont and Thelma Sobers.

His father, a seaman working in the Canadian merchant navy, died when German forces sank the boat on which he ​was serving. Garfield was five years old.

His mother rose to the task of raising the children by herself. “She did whatever she had to do and looked after us ⁠tremendously well,” Sobers wrote in his autobiography.

“We went to school, we were clean, we had shoes on our feet and food in our bellies.”

Sobers excelled at many sports, including soccer and basketball, but cricket was his passion. His ​first memories of the sport were of playing in the road or on the beach, aged eight.At first he played “Lilliputian cricket”, which required little space and a wicket less than half the normal size. The ball would be fashioned ​from a lump of tar, the bat from a piece of fence.

Source : https://www.reuters.com/sports/cricket/west-indies-great-sobers-dies-89-2026-07-17

Indian cricket is abuzz with speculation about the curtains coming down on one of the most illustrious ODI batters, Rohit Sharma’s career

Indian cricket is abuzz with speculation about the curtains coming down on one of the most illustrious ODI batters, Rohit Sharma’s career. The speculation had intensified even before the England series as BCCI and Team India chalk out plans for next year’s ODI World Cup. Rohit Sharma will be over 40 by the time India play the ODI World Cup in late 2027. While his form has been decent, the fact that an in-form younger opener, Yashasvi Jaiswal, has been waiting on the sidelines for a long time has not escaped anyone’s attention. On Thursday, multiple reports claimed that the third India vs England ODI at Lord’s on July 19 might be the last time Rohit will be picked for the Indian team.

The Indian Express reported that Rohit met with BCCI officials during the ongoing three-match ODI series against England, and the opener ‘wasn’t happy’ with their decision.

The report further claimed that the BCCI selection committee has informed Rohit that they have decided to ‘move on’ from the former India captain after the ODI series. The selection committee reportedly spoke with Sharma, along with coach Gautam Gambhir, last week.

The BCCI selectors are intent on giving youngsters like Yashasvi Jaiswal game time while looking ahead to the 2027 World Cup.

“The selectors have decided that henceforth they will not select Rohit Sharma in ODIs. If he wants to bow out gracefully or chooses not to call it a day immediately, that is entirely his personal decision. However, the message is clear: the selectors will not pick him for ODIs after the game at Lord’s on Sunday,” a BCCI source told IANS on Thursday.

On May 7, 2025, Rohit quit Test cricket ahead of India’s five-match tour of England and was shortly replaced by Shubman Gill as the Test captain. In 286 ODI games, Rohit has amassed 11,731 runs and firmly established himself in Indian cricket folklore as one of the most explosive and dependable openers in the 50-over format.

He also led India with aplomb in 56 ODIs, including guiding the side to the 2023 World Cup final with his all-out attacking approach and astute leadership. Rohit also captained India to the 2025 Men’s Champions Trophy triumph in the UAE.

Source : https://sports.ndtv.com/england-vs-india-2026/rohit-sharma-wasnt-happy-after-meeting-bcci-officials-amid-stars-last-odi-buzz-report-claims-inside-details-11781851

Lionel Messi was not surprised that Argentina had managed to dig themselves out of a hole once again in their World Cup semi-final against England and book a ​return to the title decider.

The 39-year-old Argentina captain provided assists for Enzo ‌Fernandez and Lautaro Martinez in the dying minutes of Wednesday’s highly charged clash at Atlanta Stadium as the world champions came from behind to secure a 2-1 victory.

That followed extra-time victories over Cape Verde in ​the Round of 32 and Switzerland in the quarter-finals, as well as a 3-2 ​win from 2-0 down over Egypt in the last 16 secured by ⁠a stoppage-time winner.

“This group doesn’t surprise me,” Messi told reporters after the game.

“I know ​and we know what we were capable of. People might have had doubts about us ​because we had players who were very much at their limit, but when we come together and are united, it always gives us an extra boost.

“They inspire each other. They find something they didn’t know ​they had, and give everything.”

Messi, who said he was thoroughly enjoying the ride at ​his sixth World Cup and giving no thought to retirement, was looking forward to locking horns with ‌2010 champions ⁠Spain in New Jersey on Sunday.

“It’s a team I know well,” said Messi, who played for Barcelona in Spain for 17 years.

“They have a footballing philosophy and have been playing this way for many, many years.

“I know the players. I’ve played against them, I follow ​them and several of ​them are at ⁠Barca, the club I love.

“It’s a special match, a World Cup final. I imagine it’s going to be an even contest.”

Source : https://www.reuters.com/sports/soccer/last-gasp-argentinas-resilience-no-surprise-captain-messi-2026-07-16

Argentina’s Enzo Fernandez and Lautaro Martinez struck late goals to snatch a 2-1 win over England in the World Cup semi-final on Wednesday to send Lionel Messi’s reigning champions into the weekend showpiece match against Spain.

Just when England appeared set for victory after ​Anthony Gordon’s second-half goal, Argentina mounted a relentless late siege and got their reward as Fernandez levelled before Martinez completed the turnaround in the 92nd minute with Messi providing the ‌pass for the equaliser and the cross for the winner.

The result added another unforgettable chapter to one of football’s fiercest rivalries, a contest rich in history, emotion and tension from the opening whistle.

For England, dreams of a first World Cup final since 1966, when they enjoyed their only triumph at the global tournament, were dashed in the closing stages, while Argentina celebrated a comeback that kept alive their quest for another world title.

With England inexplicably parked in their own end, an Argentina ​equaliser felt inevitable and, after waves of late pressure, Fernandez finally broke through in the 85th minute when Messi found him in space on the edge of the box to fire ​home from 20 metres past Jordan Pickford into the corner.

Martinez, an 81st-minute substitute, struck the winner early in added time when Alexis Mac Allister drove a ⁠shot off the post that Messi recovered. The 39-year-old talisman drove down the right to send in a brilliant ball for Martinez to head home.

“We are truly unique, and that’s not arrogance,” said Argentina boss ​Lionel Scaloni. “From the bottom of my heart, these players led us to victory. I’m lost for words. A joy for our country, for our people.”

SIGNIFICANT VICTORY FOR MESSI

The victory carried particular significance for 39-year-old Messi, ​who was featuring in what is widely expected to be the final World Cup of his glittering career.

For England, the defeat was a devastating blow after they matched Argentina for much of a hard-fought contest.

The Three Lions had appeared poised for victory after Gordon broke the deadlock in the 55th minute when Nicolas Tagliafico’s attempted clearance landed at the feet of Declan Rice, who sent a through ball to Morgan Rogers.

Gordon popped up at the back post to guide Rogers’ cross ​with his instep past goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez, sparking bedlam among the England players and fans.

But Thomas Tuchel’s side failed to withstand a relentless late assault as Argentina turned the game on its head.

“Just gutted ​for the boys, gutted for everyone, the team, the staff, the fans,” England captain Harry Kane said.

“We played a good game for the large majority of it. Once we went 1-0 up, we seemed to just try and hold ‌on. At ⁠this level, it’s not enough.

“Gutted because we’ve worked so hard to be here and the lads have given every last bit of running, sweat, blood, tears, whatever it is. So to fall short like we did today … just gutted.”

Tuchel said he had no regrets.

“The team gave everything and we were very, very close,” the German said. “The team was top, we couldn’t bring it over the line, no, (but) at the moment no regrets.”

Source : https://www.reuters.com/sports/soccer/holders-argentina-beat-england-2-1-set-up-world-cup-final-against-spain-2026-07-15

Argentina could face FIFA sanctions after displaying a Falkland Islands banner following their World Cup semifinal win over England. Here’s why the celebration could breach FIFA’s political message rules.

Argentina defeated England in the FIFA World Cup semifinal and broke a FIFA rule that could invite heavy sanctions. Argentina celebrated the win over England by displaying the Falkland Island banner. Midfielder Giovani Lo Celso held a banner that read “Las Malvinas son Argentinas,” which means “The Malvinas are Argentine.” The banner was reportedly first displayed by Argentina fans in the stands before defender Nicolas Otamendi laid it out on the pitch.

Why Was The Falkland Island Banner Controversial?
For the unversed, Argentina and Britain fought a war for the Island. ‘Las Malvinas’ is a term that is used in Argentina for the Falkland Islands, a British territory that lies around 480 km off Argentina’s east coast. Argentina and the United Kingdom have disputed ownership of the islands for decades. Britain claimed the Island in 1774 and reasserted its rule in 1832. Argentina invaded the Island in 1982, but it ended in Argentina’s surrender. The conflict that lasted from April 2 to June 14 ended with the deaths of three civilians, 255 British and 649 Argentine troops.
Why Argentina Could Be Sanctioned?
The International Football Association Board (IFAB), football’s lawmakers, and FIFA have strict rules for displaying political flags, slogans and symbols. Ahead of the FIFA World Cup, they also banned the display of pre-revolutionary Iranian flags. If the Falkland Island banner is found political, Argentina could face sanctions from FIFA.
“Equipment must not have any political, religious or personal slogans, statements or images. Players must not reveal undergarments that show political, religious, personal slogans, statements or images, or advertising other than the manufacturer’s logo,” IFAB’s rulebook states.

“For any offence the player and/or the team will be sanctioned by the competition organiser, national football association or by FIFA.”

Source: https://www.timesnownews.com/sports/football/argentina-risk-fifa-sanctions-over-falkland-islands-banner-after-england-win-heres-why-article-155108647

The World Test Championship was launched a few years ago to boost interest in Test cricket. In its current format, the WTC is played in a two-year cycle

The World Test Championship was launched a few years ago to boost interest in Test cricket. In its current format, the WTC is played in a two-year cycle. Recently, at the International Cricket Council’s annual conference in Edinburgh, some interesting ideas came up. According to a report by the BBC, one “subject which gained some traction” was the possibility of adding semi-finals to the WTC.

An ICC working group, headed by New Zealand board member Roger Twose, is working to expand the tournament to include Afghanistan, Ireland and Zimbabwe.

The report added that there is a proposal on the table to “reduce the 50-over World Cup from 14 teams to 12, along with the addition of a ‘Super Seven’ stage. This could even be in place for the 2027 edition, which is being co-hosted by South Africa, Namibia and Zimbabwe.”

A T20 World Cup format tweak may also be under review, with the ‘Super Eight’ stage increasing to a ‘Super 10’.

Meanwhile, the governing board of the International Cricket Council (ICC) has endorsed the continuation of the Development Pathway Programme for Afghan refugee women cricketers and also reconstituted the Special Taskforce, assigning it the responsibility of developing a roadmap for them to participate in the ICC’s qualification pathways by 2030.

Source : https://sports.ndtv.com/cricket/wtc-semi-finals-to-be-introduced-report-explores-idea-that-is-gaining-traction-11772323

 

As per a report, the PCB has been accused of extortion for demanding a last-minute, unbudgeted $25,000 (approx. Rs. 24 lakh, approx. PKR 69 lakh) per player from the franchises for the NOC.

The Major League Cricket (MLC) owners are reportedly planning a shadow ban on signing Pakistan players for the league due to Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chairman Mohsin Naqvi’s latest demands. According to a report on pakpassion.com, the Naqvi-led PCB had demanded a last-minute, huge sum to issue a No Objection Certificate (NOC) to its players to participate in the league. A player cannot feature in franchise leagues unless their cricket board agrees to issue an NOC, which is an ICC-mandatory document. As per the report, the PCB has been accused of extortion for demanding a last-minute, unbudgeted $25,000 (approx. Rs. 24 lakh, approx. PKR 69 lakh) per player from the franchises for the NOC.

“It’s more the extortion the PCB does. Basically, through the year, they won’t say anything. And then right towards the start of the tournament, when they have to give their NOCs, they send an email saying that for the NOC, it will be $25,000 for each player,” the report said.

The report added that such conditions only apply when the franchises face a crisis of players.

“Around a week before the tournament starts when they know we can’t find other players, we’ve announced the players and cannot replace them, that’s when they’ll come back and say you have to pay $25,000 per player for an NOC. We’ll ask them why they did not tell us this before and they won’t respond,” it added.

The MLC raised the issue with Naqvi, but the PCB considers it ‘their right to ask for this money.’

“We’ve talked to Mohsin Naqvi as well and said to him that this is extortion. This is not the right way to do it. But we were told by the Board that this is their revenue and their right to ask for this money,” the report said.

The report also pointed out that the franchises receive no guarantee despite paying the fee, as the PCB can revoke the NOC at any time and demand another last-minute payment if additional clearance becomes necessary.

Source : https://sports.ndtv.com/cricket/mohsin-naqvi-accused-of-extortion-pakistan-players-set-to-face-ban-from-this-t20-league-report-11771486?pfrom=home-ndtv_lateststories

 

Jannik Sinner beat Alexander Zverev 6-7, 7-6, 6-3, 6-4 in the Wimbledon 2026 men’s singles final. At the age of 24, Jannik Sinner has won 5 Grand Slam titles.

The modern tennis landscape is being shaped by two talismanic players: Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz. While Novak Djokovic still has what it takes to go the distance, Sinner and Alcaraz are the two dominating the sport at the moment, with Alexander Zverev showing a late surge to remain part of the discussion. With Alcaraz out injured, Sinner showed his class yet again, winning his second consecutive Wimbledon title by beating Germany’s Zverev in the final. The ease with which Sinner outlasted Zverev in the decider on Sunday has made even the most ardent fans of the sport dig deep into his playing style, shots,, and the weapons the Italian stores in his arsenal.

Usually, tennis has been a sport dominated by two distinct physical archetypes. In today’s times, on one hand, there is Carlos Alcaraz, a Spaniard with explosive athleticism capable of turning a casual rally into a chaotic sprint. On the other is Novak Djokovic, the ultimate rubber band, whose historic elasticity allows him to slide into extreme corners, bend his frame, and absorb an opponent’s best shot. Jannik Sinner is neither of these.

Instead, the World No. 1 has carved out his place at the pinnacle of men’s tennis by operating in a zone that can be called “controlled violence.” Sinner does not rely on heavy topspin arcs or defensive scrambling to win matches. The secret to his match-winning ability lies in a structurally flawless, mechanical baseline game that is extremely tricky for an opponent to counter.

What Makes Jannik Sinner Special?

Where Sinner truly separates himself from other top players is his positioning and contact point. He stands glued to the baseline, taking the ball remarkably early on the rise. By meeting the ball at its apex before it can push him back, Sinner completely suffocates his opponents. There is no comfortable place on the court to escape his pace. Almost every return comes back heavy and faster than the last, forcing rivals into a state of panic from which they can’t recover.

Not only that, but Sinner has also solved a tactical puzzle in tennis that even the greatest in history have struggled with. Most elite players possess a dominant weapon and a vulnerable side that opponents often look to exploit under pressure.

Sinner, however, generates blistering, flat power with equal lethality on both his forehand and backhand-a combination that remains unmatched even after decades of evolution and sports science in the sport.

This symmetrical weaponry gives him the edge by altering the geometry of the rally. Opponents cannot hide the ball cross-court or look for a safe haven when trying to find an escape route.

Source : https://sports.ndtv.com/wimbledon-2026/alcaraz-explosive-djokovic-elastic-what-makes-jannik-sinner-special-11763608

Rob Dieperink was supposed to be a VAR official at the ongoing FIFA World Cup 2026 but was dropped after being accused of sexually assaulting a minor.

Tragic news has emerged from the world of football, as Dutch referee Rob Dieperink has reportedly been found dead after being removed from the 2026 FIFA World Cup’s officiating team. Dieperink was supposed to be a part of the VAR (Video Assistant Referee) team at the 2026 World Cup but was dropped one month before the start of the tournament over allegations of ‘sexual assault’ involving a minor. Though the case was later closed due to insufficient evidence, it has now been revealed that the referee has died.

Dieperink died at the age of 38, though the cause of his death has not yet been made public. The Dutch Football Association (KNVB) confirmed the news in a statement, paying tribute to Dieperink, who was one of the country’s most respected officials.

“We are shocked and deeply saddened by the passing of Rob Dieperink. With Rob, we lose a highly valued referee, but above all, a kind and dedicated colleague,” the KNVB said.

FIFA, the sport’s global governing body, also released a statement, offering its condolences on the Dutchman’s death.

“On behalf of the entire football community, we extend our sincerest condolences to his family and friends and the Dutch Football Association. May he rest in peace,” the statement from FIFA read.

Dieperink had been officiating in the Netherlands’ top-flight, Eredivisie, since 2017 and was also one of the VAR officials during the European Championships in 2024. He was named in the FIFA World Cup 2026 roster as a video assistant referee, according to the BBC, but was later removed.

Source : https://sports.ndtv.com/fifa-world-cup-2026/dutch-referee-38-dies-unexpectedly-weeks-after-being-removed-from-fifa-world-cup-2026-team-11767644

The Indian women’s cricket team won the first-ever women’s test match at Lord’s Cricket Ground by defeating hosts England by a thumping margin of 270 runs.

The 212-year-old history of the Lord’s Cricket Ground, which is widely regarded as the ‘home of cricket,’ will forever have a chapter on the Indian women’s cricket team, who scripted history on Monday (July 13) at the storied venue by winning the first-ever women’s test match at the venue after thrashing England by runs in a one-off test match.

The Harmanpreet Kaur-led side bounced back strongly from the setback of failing to make the semi-finals of the recently concluded ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2026, which also took place in England by proving their prowess in the longest format in the historic clash.

Vaibhav Sooryavashi-mania hit the world of tennis on Sunday as India’s 15-year-old cricket sensation attended the Wimbledon 2026 men’s singles final between Jannik Sinner and Alexander Zverev.

Vaibhav Sooryavashi-mania hit the world of tennis on Sunday as India’s 15-year-old cricket sensation attended the Wimbledon 2026 men’s singles final between Jannik Sinner and Alexander Zverev. Sooryavanshi was among a number of high-profile cricketers in attendance, along with the likes of Abhishek Sharma and Yuvraj Singh. Sooryavanshi revealed that it was his first experience of watching Grand Slam tennis live. The 15-year-old also sported a sharp new look, and he credited his T20I opening partner Abhishek for helping him arrange a suit for the occasion.

“Of course, I wanted to watch the finals match. It’s my first experience watching live, and it’s been good to see how the players approach a final,” Sooryavanshi said, speaking to JioStar.

Speaking on his new look, Sooryavanshi revealed how Abhishek Sharma helped him.

“Did not do much (fashion experimenting). I wore whatever I could find in a rush, and asked Abhishek bhaiya to help me arrange it,” he shared.

Sooryavanshi also revealed which tennis players he likes watching the most.

“I have been following tennis for the last four to five years. I used to watch (Rafael) Nadal and (Novak) Djokovic a lot. Now I am a big fan of Djokovic. But both of them are players I have always followed closely,” Sooryavanshi said.

“I really like Carlos Alcaraz among the current generation of tennis players, but he is not playing this year. As I followed the tournament, I was impressed by how Jannik Sinner dominated. So hopefully he will go on to win the final today,” he added.

Source : https://sports.ndtv.com/wimbledon-2026/vaibhav-sooryavanshi-mania-hits-wimbledon-15-year-old-star-reveals-favourite-tennis-player-11762519?pfrom=home-ndtv_lateststories

Indian cricket legend Sachin Tendulkar congratulated Jannik Sinner on successfully defending his Wimbledon men’s singles title.

Indian cricket legend Sachin Tendulkar congratulated Jannik Sinner on successfully defending his Wimbledon men’s singles title, praising the Italian’s resilience and composure in his victory over Alexander Zverev. Sinner defended his Wimbledon title with a 6-7(7), 7-6(2), 6-3, 6-4 victory over Alexander Zverev to claim his fifth Grand Slam title and first major crown of the 2026 season. Taking to X after the final, Tendulkar applauded both players, particularly highlighting Zverev’s all-round performance while crediting Sinner’s mental strength for making the difference.

“@AlexZverev really threw everything at @janniksin today! His serve, his movement, his shot-making… outstanding. But Sinner showed why champions need more than just their best tennis. He had to fight through difficult moments, stay composed and keep believing. That resilience made the difference,” Tendulkar wrote.

“Congratulations, Jannik Sinner, on another @Wimbledon title!” he added.

.@AlexZverev really threw everything at @janniksin today! His serve, his movement, his shot-making… outstanding.

But Sinner showed why champions need more than just their best tennis. He had to fight through difficult moments, stay composed and keep believing.

That resilience…

— Sachin Tendulkar (@sachin_rt) July 12, 2026

World No. 1 Jannik Sinner successfully defended his Wimbledon men’s singles title with a 6-7(7), 7-6(2), 6-3, 6-4 victory over Alexander Zverev, claiming his fifth Grand Slam title and first major crown of the 2026 season.

Source : https://sports.ndtv.com/wimbledon-2026/sachin-tendulkar-drops-unmissable-post-as-jannik-sinner-clinches-wimbledon-2026-title-11762594?pfrom=home-ndtv_lateststories

 

 

The International Cricket Council on Saturday inducted former Indian men’s and women’s skipper Sourav Ganguly and Anjum Chopra into its prestigious Hall of Fame.

The International Cricket Council on Saturday inducted former Indian men’s and women’s skipper Sourav Ganguly and Anjum Chopra into its prestigious Hall of Fame. Former England captain Kevin Pietersen too joined his Indian counterparts in the coveted list during a glittering ceremony in Edinburgh. “I am delighted to welcome the latest inductees into the ICC Hall of Fame, a tribute to the extraordinary individuals whose achievements have contributed greatly to our sport,” Jay Shah, ICC Chairman, said.

“This year’s inductees represent the highest standards of excellence, and each one of them has earned the admiration of fans around the world.” Shah lauded the troika for their immense contributions to the sport.

“Sourav, Anjum and Kevin have all led their national teams with pride, and I would like to congratulate them on behalf of the ICC for this richly deserved honour.

“Their place in the ICC Hall of Fame ensures their achievements will be celebrated for generations to come, standing alongside the game’s greatest figures,” Shah added in a release issued by the ICC.

Ganguly, who reshaped the fortunes of Indian cricket with his astute captaincy at a time when the country was shaken by match-fixing allegations, rated the moment a “cherished” one.

“I am honoured to be inducted into the ICC Hall of Fame. To have my name included among cricket’s greatest players will remain one of my most cherished moments.

“Representing India and playing along with several greats of the game has been a privilege, and to now be recognised in this way is truly special,” he said.

Ganguly, who also headed the BCCI in the past and owner of 18,575 international runs across a near decade-and-half career, hoped to continue his association with cricket.

“I would like to extend my sincere gratitude to Mr Jay Shah for this huge honour, which I consider the highest recognition a cricketer can receive. This game has given me a lot, and I hope to continue to serve the game in the years to come.

“I would like to take this opportunity to thank my near and dear ones for their support over the years,” said the Kolkata man.

Source : https://sports.ndtv.com/cricket/sourav-ganguly-anjum-chopra-kevin-pietersen-inducted-into-icc-hall-of-fame-11759406

Linda Noskova defeated Muchova 6-2, 5-7, 6-3 to win Wimbledon 2026

Karolina Muchova almost pulled off a Carlos Alcaraz-type comeback, but Linda Noskova held her nerves to win Wimbledon 2026, her first Grand Slam. The game turned out to be a blockbuster. Noskova dominated for one and a half sets and had seven championship points; however, Muchova, despite being down a break, kept saving points and eventually stunned Noskova to win the set 5-7.

Noskova, however, didn’t let the blip get on her head and played a perfect third set to win the game 6-2, 5-7, 6-3 to become the Wimbledon champion.

The match reminded fans of the French Open 2025 final between Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner, where Alcaraz saved championship points and made a stunning comeback to win the French Open. However, Muchova failed to replicate the feat, but she showed tremendous will to fight and made a match out of nothing.

Meanwhile, Noskova continued the trend of a new Wimbledon winner every year. After Serena Williams defended her title in 2016, Wimbledon has seen a new champion every year.

 

 

Mikel Merino, who smashed in the World Cup quarter-final winner against Belgium in the 88th minute on Friday, said it was “surreal” to have scored a late winner in two straight knockout games for Spain.

Mikel Merino, who smashed in the World Cup quarter-final winner against Belgium in the 88th minute on Friday, said it was “surreal” to have scored a late winner in two straight knockout games for Spain. “I couldn’t have imagined something like this even in my wildest dreams — another goal in the dying minutes,” said Merino, who had already scored in stoppage time in Spain’s 1-0 win over Portugal on Monday. “I thought it would take a long time to repeat a feat like that… and I managed it in the very next game!”

Late in the game and with the score tied 1-1, Spain’s Pau Cubarsi had shot low from range.

Belgian substitute ‘keeper Senne Lammens should have held onto the ball. Instead it bounced toward Merino, who had only been on the pitch two minutes himself. The Arsenal player was first to the rebound and fired it in.

Merino said it was not purely a coincidence, attributing his dramatic late success to “going out there with drive” and belief in himself to “contribute wherever you’re needed.”

“That’s exactly what I did,” he said.

Merino said his team’s run to a semi-final clash with France at the World Cup has so far been “less flashy” than Spain’s victorious campaign at the European Championships two years ago.

“It was a struggle today,” he admitted.

Source : https://sports.ndtv.com/fifa-world-cup-2026/spains-merino-living-wildest-dreams-with-late-world-cup-winners-11756222

Lionel Messi has been in supreme touch in the FIFA World Cup. True to his greatness, Messi has not only scored eight goals – the most by any player – but has also inspired Argentina to reach great heights

Lionel Messi has been in supreme touch in the FIFA World Cup. True to his greatness, Messi has not only scored eight goals – the most by any player – but has also inspired Argentina to reach great heights. While Messi and Argentina have been on a goal-scoring spree, the journey has not been smooth. Argentina were stretched to extra time by Cape Verde in the Round of 32, while they made a late escape against Egypt after being 2-0 down in the Round of 16. In the quarter-final, Argentina will face Switzerland.

During Argentina’s Round of 32 match against Cape Verde, which the former won 3-2, a photo went viral showing World Cup debutant Roberto Lopes having a go at Messi. The Argentine great could be seen saying something to him.

Now, Lopes has revealed what Messi said during the exchange.

“Yes, it was nothing really. I just saw him come into my eyeline and gave him a little push just to make sure he was real. I had to touch him to make sure he was human. He didn’t take too kindly to it,” Roberto Lopes said on a talk show.

“He said, ‘Lopes, that’s a foul. There’s no ball here. Don’t touch me.’ I think he was trying to put me off. So I paid it no mind. And he just kept going. Then the referee blew for half-time, and I just said to him, ‘Look, I just need to touch you because if you are behind me, I am in deep trouble.’ And we just shook hands and got on with it.”

Meanwhile, Brazil veteran Rivaldo praised Lionel Messi and Argentina’s fighting spirit after the defending champions staged a remarkable comeback to defeat Egypt in the FIFA World Cup 2026 Round of 16.

Source : https://sports.ndtv.com/fifa-world-cup-2026/lionel-messi-said-dont-touch-me-cape-verde-star-roberto-lopes-reveals-story-behind-viral-clash-11750832?pfrom=home-ndtv_lateststories

British wildcard Arthur Fery extended his sensational Wimbledon run into a semi-final against French Open champion Alexander Zverev, after Marta Kostyuk set up a women’s last-four clash against Linda Noskova

British wildcard Arthur Fery extended his sensational Wimbledon run into a semi-final against French Open champion Alexander Zverev, after Marta Kostyuk set up a women’s last-four clash against Linda Noskova on Wednesday. Fery, the world number 114, dismantled Roland Garros runner-up Flavio Cobolli 6-4, 7-6 (7/4), 6-0 to become the first Wimbledon wildcard to reach the men’s last four since Goran Ivanisevic won the 2001 title. Incredibly, Fery is just two victories away from emulating Ivanisevic and becoming the first British man to win Wimbledon since Andy Murray in 2016.

“It gets better and better every match. It’s incredible. I just can’t believe it,” Fery said to his adoring new fans, who created a partisan atmosphere on Centre Court.

He is the third-lowest ranked man since 1985 to reach the Wimbledon semis, after world number 237 Vladimir Voltchkov in 2000 and world number 125 Ivanisevic in 2001.

Zverev romped to a 6-4, 6-4, 6-2 victory over sixth seed Taylor Fritz, making his first semi-final at the All England Club by snapping a seven-match losing streak against the American.

The German second seed had never got past the Wimbledon last 16 in nine previous trips to south-west London.

“I’m extremely happy to be in the semi-finals, especially against Taylor who I hadn’t beaten in two years,” he said.

Zverev is only the third German man in the Open era to make the last four at all the Grand Slam tournaments, after Boris Becker and Michael Stich — Germany’s last men’s Wimbledon winner in 1991.

“It’s a dream come true to finally play well at Wimbledon, I’ve waited a long time for it,” he added.

The 29-year-old Zverev will be a huge favourite against Fery on Friday, with reigning champion and world number one Jannik Sinner or Novak Djokovic awaiting in the final.

Kostyuk into second straight Slam semi-final

Ukraine’s Kostyuk raced to a 6-3, 6-2 victory over Italian Jasmine Paolini after just 69 minutes on Centre Court and will play Czech ninth seed Noskova on Thursday for a place in her first major final.

“I was on this court as a spectator once nine years ago watching Roger (Federer) and to be back here as a player is amazing,” said the 24-year-old after her first appearance on the showpiece court at the All England Club.

“I walked past the ‘wall of honour’, stood beside it and took a moment.”

The 12th seed has only lost one of her last 22 matches — a semi-final defeat by eventual champion Mirra Andreeva at the French Open last month.

Former Wimbledon runner-up Paolini could not reproduce the form she showed in her last-16 win over Alexandra Eala, losing in the last eight of a Slam for the first time.

The in-form Noskova was the highest seed left in the bottom half of the draw after shock early exits for Iga Swiatek and Elena Rybakina.

The 21-year-old lived up to that billing with a 6-3, 7-5 win over experienced Belgian 25th seed Elise Mertens on Court One.

Mertens battled hard in her first Grand Slam quarter-final since 2020, but could not deal with Noskova’s power.

Source : https://sports.ndtv.com/wimbledon-2026/britains-wildcard-arthur-fery-sets-up-wimbleson-semi-finals-vs-alexander-zverev-marta-kostyuk-advances-11745878

Kapil Dev, one of India’s greatest cricketers ever, and Yograj Singh were contemporaries. They were mentored by the same coach, Desh Prem Azad, and went on to play for India, albeit with different levels of success.

Kapil Dev, one of India’s greatest cricketers ever, and Yograj Singh were contemporaries. They were mentored by the same coach, Desh Prem Azad, and went on to play for India, albeit with different levels of success. Kapil became one of the greatest all-rounders in the world and also led India to the 1983 World Cup title. Yograj Singh, also an all-rounder, played six ODIs and one Test. His international career did not flourish. Yograj’s son, Yuvraj Singh, went on to play for India. He was the Player of the Tournament in the 2007 T20 World Cup and the 2011 ODI World Cup.

Yograj, meanwhile, often made controversial comments about Kapil. “When Kapil Dev became captain of India, North Zone, and Haryana, he dropped me for no reason,” Yograj once said in an interview.

“My wife (Yuvi’s mother) wanted me to ask Kapil questions. I told her that I would teach this bloody man a lesson. I took my pistol out and went to Kapil’s house in Sector 9. He came out with his mother. I abused him a dozen times. I told him, because of you I have lost a friend, and for what you have done, you will pay for it.”

Yuvraj Singh then apologised to Kapil Dev in an interview.

“He had no need to do so. Sometimes things happen. He is a great cricketer. What a fabulous cricketer he was and the way he served the country. I think he made the game more popular. People love him for the way he played cricket,” Kapil Dev said in a recent podcast on Sports Tak.

Kapil Dev was then asked directly about Yograj Singh’s statements about him. “He has said he will hug you, but only if you come as a friend,” the anchor said.

“I don’t know what he is trying to say. I am still a friend. There is nothing from my side. But I don’t like to meet bitter people in life. I like to meet happy people. There will be many things, but you will have to move on in life. But if you are a bitter person, people won’t love you. His son has done so well; he should be a happy person and live happily,” Kapil said.

“No one would get everything. Sometimes you get it, sometimes your family gets it. At the end of the day, you should be happy and not bitter. A bitter person has no place in this world. Your reaction to things determines who you are. If I slap someone or abuse someone, what good will it do? You have to move on. Somebody who has seen so much in the world, seen so many ups and downs… how many people had the chance to play for India as well as act in movies? You have already got more than many people. If you are unhappy, you are unhappy.”

Source : https://sports.ndtv.com/cricket/kapil-dev-finally-responds-to-yograj-singhs-controversial-remarks-on-him-sends-clear-message-11745993

Paraguayan senator Celeste Amarilla drew heavy criticism after she called France striker Kylian Mbappé a ‘son of a b****’, further fueling the controversy.

Paraguayan Senator Celeste Amarilla stooped to an all-time low as she launched another ugly attack on France striker Kylian Mbappe. Since France’s hard-fought 1-0 victory over Paraguay in a FIFA World Cup match, the politician has been targeting Mbappe. The feud escalated when Mbappe reportedly called her a “despicable woman and unworthy of her office.” In response, Amarilla insulted the French striker on the Senate floor this Wednesday, calling him a “son of a b****.” This marked a new low in the ongoing war of words between the two. Amarilla reiterated her anger over Mbappe’s refusal to shake hands with Paraguayan goalkeeper Orlando Gill after the match.

“When Orlando Gill, a boy who was surely setting foot in a World Cup for the first time, in Europe for the first time, was playing before the world and extends his hand with all the humility of a Paraguayan, and this son of a b—- refuses to shake his hand and yells in his face-that is not French. A Frenchman would never have done that,” Amarilla stated.

The senator, who belongs to the Authentic Radical Liberal Party, also claimed that “serious racist insults” were made after Paraguay’s defeat. In a further critique aimed at the striker, Amarilla said, “France is Rousseau, Descartes, Montesquieu, Victor Hugo, Simone de Beauvoir, the Declaration of the Rights of Man and of the Citizen. I refuse to reduce all of that great France and that enormous cultural, artistic, and democratic legacy to Mbappe.”

Breaking: Paraguayan senator Celeste Amarilla has once again taken aim at Kylian Mbappe with a vulgar insult

“This son of a b*tch refuses to shake hands and screams with joy right in front of Orlando Gill!’ ” #Mbappe #Paraguay pic.twitter.com/ZocWVdDPqQ

— The Final Whistle (@Rufus_45) July 8, 2026

Previously, Amarilla had posted an open letter on her X (formerly Twitter) account, warning Mbappé of dire consequences if he did not apologize.

“Don’t mess with Paraguayans, Mbappé,” she warned, citing the case of Brazilian football icon Ronaldinho, who was jailed in Paraguay in March 2020. “We already had Ronaldinho jailed here… And don’t underestimate me, Mbappé. I can sue you… Gender violence. Political violence against women. That is serious… Let him apologize to me because I still have legal grounds for that.”

Source : https://sports.ndtv.com/fifa-world-cup-2026/paraguayan-senator-insults-kylian-mbappe-again-calls-france-striker-son-of-a-b-11746782?pfrom=home-ndtv_topscroll

While unveiling the “Next Stop: Better Buses, Faster Service” initiative, Mamdani explained that faster bus journeys would give commuters more time with their families and for everyday activities.

New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani mixed football with politics while announcing a new bus improvement plan, joking that New Yorkers could use the time they save to “agree that Egypt were robbed” in their FIFA World Cup 2026 defeat against Argentina.

While unveiling the “Next Stop: Better Buses, Faster Service” initiative, Mamdani explained that faster bus journeys would give commuters more time with their families and for everyday activities.

Q: What would you do with your extra six minutes?

Mamdani: I would probably just watch the replays of Egypt getting robbed. pic.twitter.com/paWnDjzRMh

— Acyn (@Acyn) July 8, 2026

He then added, “It means agreeing with your friends that Egypt were robbed yesterday,” drawing loud cheers and applause from the audience.

After the event, a reporter asked Mamdani what he would personally do with the six minutes saved by the new bus service. Without hesitation, he smiled and replied, “Watch the replay,” a reference to Egypt’s dramatic Round of 16 defeat.

Source : https://www.freepressjournal.in/sports/egypt-were-robbed-zohran-mamdani-says-he-will-spend-his-saved-6-minutes-watching-fifa-world-cup-2026-replay-video

 

Shapoor Zadran played 44 ODIs and 36 T20Is for Afghanistan between 2009 and 2020.

Shapoor Zadran, the former tall and long-haired pacer, has died at the age of 38, the Afghanistan Cricket Board has confirmed. Zadran breathed his last in Delhi, where he was getting treated for Hemophagocytic Lymphohistiocytosis (HLH), a rare, life-threatening disease, in which the immune system starts failing. He would have turned 39 on Wednesday (July 8).

Zadran had been battling health issues for several months. After falling ill late last year, he travelled to India for treatment on the advice of doctors in Afghanistan. Although his condition improved enough for him to be discharged, his health deteriorated again a few weeks later. He was readmitted to the hospital, and what was initially believed to be an upset stomach turned out to be far more serious. Zadran developed a high fever and tested positive for dengue, while his red blood cell count dropped sharply. Further tests, including a bone marrow examination, led to a diagnosis of Stage 4 HLH.

His younger brother, Ghamai Zadran, confirmed Shapoor’s death.

“With profound grief and deep sorrow, the Afghanistan Cricket Board mourns the passing of former Afghanistan fast bowler Shapoor Zadran. Shapoor Zadran was one of the foundation-laying figures of Afghanistan cricket, whose dedication, passion, and unwavering commitment played a vital role in the rise and development of the game in our country. He was among the proud cricketers who stood at the heart of Afghanistan’s early cricket journey and helped build the path that brought Afghan cricket to the international stage,” the ACB said in a statement.

“Throughout his career, Shapoor served Afghanistan cricket with honour, courage, and pride. His contributions and achievements will always remain an important part of the history of Afghanistan cricket, and his efforts in the service of the national team will never be forgotten.”

Zadran’s career at a glance

Zadran announced himself on the international stage with figures of 4/24 on his ODI debut against the Netherlands. He made his T20 World Cup debut in Sri Lanka in 2012, but it was at the 2015 ODI World Cup in Australia and New Zealand that he truly came to wider prominence. Charging in with his trademark long hair flowing behind him, the left-arm pacer returned figures of 4/38 against Scotland before remaining unbeaten on 12 to score the winning runs. His jubilant sprint of celebration became one of the defining images in the history of Afghan cricket. With 10 strikes, he was Afghanistan’s leading wicket-taker in the tournament.

Long before Afghanistan became giant-slayers, Zadran was among the pioneers who laid the foundations for the team’s rise. Inspired by his idol Shoaib Akhtar, he moved to Pakistan to chase his cricketing dream before returning to represent Afghanistan. He finished his career with 80 international wickets.

Source : https://www.hindustantimes.com/cricket/shapoor-zadran-former-afghanistan-pacer-dies-at-38-after-prolonged-illness-101783416831321.html

A number of refereeing decisions came under scrutiny in Argentina’s 3-2 win over Egypt in the Round of 16 of FIFA World Cup 2026.

While Argentina scripted a sensational 3-2 comeback win over Egypt in their FIFA World Cup 2026 Round of 16 encounter, the match was not devoid of controversy. Egypt had a goal disallowed in the second half by VAR, while the referees also came under scrutiny. Following rants from Egypt head coach Hossam Hassan and forward Mostafa Ziko, many social media users also criticised several decisions made by match referee Francois Letexier. The incidents, which went Argentina’s way, caused a furore on the internet.

In the first half, replays appeared to show Argentina right-back Nahuel Molina fouling Egypt winger Emam Ashour with an outstretched arm. However, Molina was not penalised for the challenge.

VAR only focus was to check Egypt player simply touching Agentinian players, not the other way around. #FIFA #VAR pic.twitter.com/UiqKEoTWLa

— Survivor (@Wasim_wazir) July 7, 2026

Another decision that left several social media users unhappy was when Egypt were not awarded a penalty in the second half, after Mohamed Salah went down in Argentina’s box after a challenge from left-back Nicolas Tagliafico.

Replays showed that Tagliafico may have caught Salah on the toe, causing the Egypt star to lose possession and go down.

– no foul (penalty actually)
– no var
– goal validaded

that’s not just an outrageous, it’s cheating in broad day light! they don’t even try to disguise. just like cape verde, EGYPT WAS ROBBED#ARGxEGY pic.twitter.com/KfPNrjEmTq

— ~*bia wheat*~ ˢᶜᶜᵖ 🇧🇷 (@biatrigo) July 7, 2026

The incidents have triggered a huge debate among fans, journalists and former players and experts of the game, with many wondering if the officials are are favouring Argentina, especially in decisions that can go either way.

Right now, most of the opinions are driven by emotion rather than logic—especially from Ronaldo fans, Egyptian supporters, and people simply chasing engagement.

The first incident involving Salah on the right is virtually identical to the one shown below on the left. There is… pic.twitter.com/EZF6Ghy8Rl

— Appie Culé (@appiecule) July 7, 2026

There is no conclusive proof. But the circumstantial evidence that there is pro-Argentina bias in FIFA affecting the World Cup:

1) In the group stage opener against Algeria, Messi caught Aïssa Mandi with a studs-up challenge on the Achilles and escaped any card. FIFA later…

— Shaiel Ben-Ephraim (@academic_la) July 7, 2026

Source : https://sports.ndtv.com/fifa-world-cup-2026/egypt-robbed-in-argentinas-dramatic-3-2-comeback-win-internet-slams-referee-var-over-multiple-calls-11741357?pfrom=home-ndtv_topscroll 

 

Belgium brought the United States’ World Cup party to a shattering halt on Monday, thrashing the tournament co-hosts 4-1 to set up a quarter-final showdown with Spain.

Belgium brought the United States’ World Cup party to a shattering halt on Monday, thrashing the tournament co-hosts 4-1 to set up a quarter-final showdown with Spain. Charles De Ketelaere scored twice, Hans Vanaken punished a goalkeeping howler, and substitute Romelu Lukaku added a fourth to settle a last-16 clash that had been overshadowed by the pre-match uproar surrounding US striker Folarin Balogun. Balogun, named in US coach Mauricio Pochettino’s starting line-up after FIFA suspended a one-game ban following lobbying by US President Donald Trump, was largely anonymous throughout Monday’s knockout tie at Seattle’s Lumen Field.

Instead, a rampant Belgium ruthlessly dismantled the USA’s hopes of reaching a first World Cup quarter-final in 24 years, in a bitterly disappointing end to a campaign that had captivated the host nation.

De Ketelaere fired Belgium ahead after nine minutes, and although Malik Tillman’s deflected free-kick leveled it in the 31st-minute, the US fightback was shortlived.

De Ketelaere headed Belgium back in front in the 33rd minute, and Vanaken made it 3-1 in the 57th minute after a dreadful blunder by US goalkeeper Matt Freese, who was dispossessed after charging out of his penalty area to clear.

Veteran striker Lukaku piled on the misery with a fourth in stoppage time.

The defeat capped a tumultuous 24 hours for the World Cup co-hosts, who were lifted by FIFA’s shock reprieve of Balogun on Sunday — a decision which brought widespread condemnation across the football world.

Belgium football chiefs had challenged Balogun’s eligibility for the game earlier on Monday but saw their appeal dismissed out of hand by FIFA.

Sad farewell

The Belgians advance to a quarter-final meeting with Spain in Los Angeles on Friday.

The Spaniards booked their place in that game with a 1-0 victory over Portugal in the final World Cup match of Cristiano Ronaldo’s career.

Spanish substitute Mikel Merino coolly slotted the winner in the first minute of stoppage time to seal victory in a dour contest between the Iberian football rivals at the AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas.

The defeat marked a sad farewell to the World Cup for Portugal captain Ronaldo, the 41-year-old superstar playing in his sixth edition of the tournament.

Former Manchester United and Real Madrid star Ronaldo, who has struggled to reproduce his best form during a challenging campaign in the United States, had long dreamed of adding a World Cup winners medal to his collection of honours amassed over a career that has straddled three decades.

But the striker was rarely more than a peripheral figure in a performance that saw Portugal muster just two shots on target, compared to Spain’s six.

Ronaldo said afterwards he would take time to consider his future following the defeat.

“It was my last World Cup, yes, but I’ll have time to think about the rest, to be with my family, not make rash decisions, and just get on with life,” Ronaldo said.

“That’s football, that’s the life of a footballer. Sometimes you win, sometimes you lose, and you have to move on.”

Ronaldo, the leading scorer in the history of men’s international football, said he would leave the World Cup stage “with a clear conscience”.

Source : https://sports.ndtv.com/fifa-world-cup-2026/belgium-thrash-usa-4-1-despite-donald-trumps-red-card-influence-enter-quarterfinals-11736506

Kylian Mbappe slammed a Paraguayan senator after she launched a racist attack on him following Paraguay’s loss against Spain in the FIFA World Cup 2026 Round of 16.

France football team striker Kylian Mbappe slammed a Paraguayan senator after she launched a racist attack on him following Paraguay’s loss against Spain in the FIFA World Cup 2026 Round of 16. Mbappe scored the only goal of the match from the penalty as France booked their spot in the quarterfinals. Following the match, Celeste Amarilla wrote a slur-filled racist post on X where she described Mbappe as a “colonised Cameroonian, desperately trying to pass himself off as French,” and a “brute” who had not learned to write. She went on to write that Paraguay players should have slapped him.

Mbappe responded with a strong-worded message and called Amarilla a ‘despicable woman’.

“Madame Celeste Amarilla, You are a despicable woman and unworthy of your position. You do not represent Paraguay, that country which has sweated passion and honor throughout the competition.”

“Through your recklessness and your brazen racism, the entire world has already forgotten the journey and the historic effort that your players accomplished during this World Cup, making way for an incompetent woman who gives the worst possible image of her country.”

Madame Celeste Amarilla,
Vous êtes une femme méprisable et indigne de sa fonction.
Vous ne représentez pas le Paraguay, ce pays qui a transpiré la passion et l’honneur tout au long de la compétition. Par votre inconscience et votre racisme décomplexé, le monde entier a déjà… pic.twitter.com/EnYmgQXvPL

— Kylian Mbappé (@KMbappe) July 6, 2026

“I will never allow people like her the freedom to spread their hatred and racism across the world,” he wrote.

According to Reuters, the French Football Federation (FFF) also announced plans to file criminal charges against her and described the comments as “utterly abhorrent and unacceptable”.

Source : https://sports.ndtv.com/fifa-world-cup-2026/kylian-mbappe-blasts-paraguayan-senator-for-racist-attack-a-despicable-woman-11736018?pfrom=home-ndtv_fifa

 

Cristiano Ronaldo set the record straight after Portugal’s FIFA World Cup exit in a 0-1 defeat to Spain. He said “I have won three titles for Portugal; before Cristiano Ronaldo, Portugal hadn’t won a single title”.

Cristiano Ronaldo was heartbroken as Portugal were eliminated from the FIFA World Cup 2026, in a Round of 16 defeat to Spain on Monday. While Ronaldo has already confirmed that this was his last World Cup, the record goalscorer in international football isn’t keen on making a rash decision on hanging up his boots. As Ronaldo bides his time and analyses his next step, he was quick to rewind and sum up his international career in the Portugal shirt. While the dream of lifting the World Cup remains unfulfilled for the 41-year-old, winning the 2016 European Championship is equally satisfying, if not more so.

Speaking to the media after the game, Ronaldo shared a clear plan regarding his international career. Though his sister had said before Portugal’s Round of 16 match that the former Real Madrid man would hang up his boots after the World Cup, he isn’t keen on taking such a big step immediately after the exit from the tournament.

“I am sad to be leaving the World Cup like this. I gave it my all. I did my best, and I am leaving with a clear conscience. It was my last World Cup, yes, but I will now have time to reflect and be with my family. I will not be making any rash decisions.”

“I don’t make decisions in the heat of the moment,” he added.

Looking back at his international career, Ronaldo said that he is responsible for helping Portugal win three titles – one European Championship in 2016 and two UEFA Nations Leagues in 2019 and 2025 – whereas they had no silverware before that.

“I have won three titles for Portugal; before Cristiano Ronaldo, Portugal hadn’t won a single title. The biggest title the national team has ever won was in 2016, the European Championship, which, to be honest, is just as significant to me as a World Cup,” he added.

Cristiano Ronaldo:

🗣️ “I’ve won three titles with Portugal. Before Cristiano, Portugal hadn’t won anything.

The biggest title I won with the National Team was Euro 2016. FOR ME, IT HAS THE SAME DIMENSION AS A WORLD CUP.” 😳🇵🇹 pic.twitter.com/kqDd3Oo5Qf

— World Cup HQ (@WorldCup26HQ) July 6, 2026

Ronaldo also spoke highly of Portugal coach Roberto Martinez, who decided to resign immediately after the team’s World Cup exit.

Source : https://sports.ndtv.com/fifa-world-cup-2026/cristiano-ronaldo-after-world-cup-exit-before-me-portugal-hadnt-won-anything-11736379?pfrom=home-ndtv_topscroll

 

Neymar Jr. announced his retirement from international football after Brazil’s painful exit at the hands of Norway in the Round of 16.

One of the most iconic players to play for Brazil, Neymar Jr. has decided to hang up his boots from international football after his team’s shock defeat to Norway, which led to their elimination from the 2026 FIFA World Cup. The announcement ends Neymar’s 16-year career as the nation’s all-time leading scorer, with 80 goals in 129 appearances. Neymar’s final appearance for Brazil came as a substitute at MetLife Stadium—the very same venue as his 2010 debut. The former Barcelona and Paris Saint-Germain star scored a penalty against Norway, though it could not prevent Brazil from crashing out of the tournament.

Neymar was practically inconsolable as Brazil were eliminated by Norway. Visuals of him crying relentlessly after the final whistle broke fans’ hearts. Several of his Brazil teammates tried to comfort him, but the former Barcelona man was left utterly shattered.

“I tried, I tried. Now it’s over,” he told Globo after the game. “I started here; I finished here.” While his time with the Selecao is over, Neymar continues his club career with Santos FC, evaluating his future season by season.

The defeat against Norway marks Brazil’s horrendous run against European opponents in the World Cups. The 5-time champions haven’t beaten European opponents since beating Germany in the final of 2002. Despite the setback, coach Carlo Ancelotti said Sunday’s painful World Cup last-16 exit should be used as “fuel” for the future as he insisted their disappointing tournament is “the start of a new cycle”.

“Obviously everyone is deeply disappointed, considering what happened. I don’t think we have had a spectacular World Cup, but we had a good one. I think we even deserved to win the game today,” Ancelotti said after the 2-1 loss at the MetLife Stadium in New Jersey.

For Norway, it was Haaland who scored two late goals in a match which hinged on an early penalty by Brazil’s Bruno Guimaraes, which was saved. Neymar’s successful spot-kick in injury time could only prove to be a consolation. It was also his final moment in the Brazil shirt as a player.

“You have to digest a defeat like this. This has been a new adventure. Now we need to keep earning our places, keep trying to improve,” added Ancelotti, who was appointed just over a year ago and charged with the task of winning Brazil a record-extending sixth World Cup.

Source : https://sports.ndtv.com/fifa-world-cup-2026/neymar-jr-drops-retirement-bomb-after-brazils-heartbreaking-fifa-world-cup-exit-11731489?pfrom=home-ndtv_topscroll

Vaibhav Sooryavanshi finally debuts for India in T20I vs Ireland in Belfast, breaking Sachin Tendulkar’s record as youngest India international.

Vaibhav Sooryavanshi has broken Sachin Tendulkar’s long-standing record, becoming the youngest male cricketer to make a debut for India in international cricket, doing so at the tender age of 15 years and 99 days. The Bihar teenager was given his debut cap for the second T20I against England in Manchester.

Tendulkar made his Test debut in 1989 — against Pakistan in Karachi — at the age of 16 years and 205 days, which makes Sooryavanshi the first 15-year-old to play for the Men in Blue.

Sooryavanshi got his debut cap from Tilak Varma at the Old Trafford cricket ground. He replaced senior opener Sanju Samson in the playing 11 and will take the top-order spot alongside Abhishek Sharma.

Youngest debuts for India in international cricket:

Vaibhav Sooryavanshi’s stunning rise

Sooryavanshi’s ascent represents a remarkable breakthrough in modern sports. The left-handed prodigy from Bihar first gained national attention by making his Ranji Trophy debut at twelve. His trajectory accelerated when the Rajasthan Royals secured him for the 2025 Indian Premier League.

Debuting at fourteen, he immediately broke records, becoming the youngest centurion in men’s T20 cricket with a thirty-five-ball century against the Gujarat Titans. The subsequent year solidified his status as a generational talent.

Source : https://www.news18.com/cricket/vaibhav-sooryavanshi-breaks-sachin-tendulkars-record-becomes-indias-youngest-international-cricketer-ws-l-10175133.html

Vaibhav Sooryavanshi has become a prominent figure in cricket and even received his maiden India call-up. Despite this, he has yet to make his debut, leading to increasing calls for his inclusion.

Rising sensation Vaibhav Sooryavanshi has been rewriting history books, dominating world-class bowlers, and has even become the biggest talking point among the cricket fraternity, all at just the age of 15. He shattered legendary cricketer Sachin Tendulkar’s record by becoming the youngest Indian to get an International call-up for the Ireland and England tour. However, the batting powerhouse has only been warming the bench so far. Calls for the prodigy’s debut are only growing louder with every match he spends on the sidelines, but the BCCI has now broken its silence.

BCCI vice-president Rajeev Shukla defended the team management’s choice in an exclusive interview with Times Now, stating that the young player’s selection itself shows confidence in his ability. Shukla also urged everyone to have faith in the coaches and selectors, while criticising the increasing amount of online abuse and political commentary thrown at the team management. He stressed that Sooryavanshi’s chance will come and stated that the management should be the only ones to decide when he plays.

“We are also of the view that he is a very talented player, and he showcased that during the IPL. I have seen several comments against the team management and the coaches, but I want to make it very clear that the coach and captain will take the final decision. They are looking at the situation, and whenever the right opportunity arises, they will definitely give him his chance,” Shukla told Times Now.

“So, such decisions should be left to the wisdom of the team management. I don’t know why such unnecessary comments are being made about it,” he added.

Lionel Messi, with his goal vs Cape Verde, became the first payer to score 20 goals in World Cup history and is making his 30th tournament appearance.

Argentina are all set to continue their journey in the FIFA World Cup 2026 as they are taking on the ultimate underdogs Cape Verde in the Round of 32 clash at the Miami Stadium on July 4 (Saturday). This will be a massive game for the defending champions as a win would push them straight into the Round of 16 of the tournament. The player who everyone would have their eyes on in this game will definitely be Lionel Messi, who is featuring in the playing XI after coming off from the bench in the last game against Jordan. In fact, he has continued smashing records achieving feats no one has done before.

Lionel Messi opened the scoring for Argentina converting a wonder pass from the deep by Lisandro Martinez into a goal. He thus becomes the first player in the history of he FIFA World Cup to score 20 goals in the tournament. He had already become the player with the most goals in FIFA World Cup history earlier in the tournament.

England Women vs South Africa Women Highlights, Women’s T20 World Cup 2026 Semi-Final: Captain Nat Sciver-Brunt led from the front as England thrashed South Africa in the second semi-final of the Women’s T20 World Cup 2026 at The Oval, setting up a summit clash against Australia.

England vs South Africa Highlights, Women’s T20 World Cup 2026: Captain Nat Sciver-Brunt led from the front as England thrashed South Africa in the second semi-final of the Women’s T20 World Cup 2026 at The Oval, setting up a summit clash against Australia. Chasing 170, South Africa kept losing wickets at regular intervals despite Tazmin Brits’ resistance. Brits scored 51 off 45 balls as the Proteas were eventually restricted to 129/8 in 20 overs. Earlier, England recovered from a top-order collapse to post 169/5 in 20 overs, courtesy of a 133-run stand between Sciver-Brunt and Heather Knight. Sciver-Brunt continued her rich vein of form, top-scoring with a 47-ball 75, while Knight played the perfect supporting role with 58 off 47 balls.

Then there were two – Righto, the two giants of the Women’s game are back in the Final, going head-to-head in what is anticipated to be an iconic match at ‘the home of cricket.’ On one side stand England Women, the hosts, champions in 2009 and the team that’s never lost a home World Cup Final. On the other side stand the mighty Australia Women, who have 6 T20 World Cups to their name. Both teams have an unblemished record heading into the Final, but there can be only one winner. A blockbuster Finale for the 2026 ICC Women’s T20 World Cup is all set, and it all begins on Sunday, July 5, at the iconic Lord’s. The match is scheduled to begin at 2.30 pm GMT, but you can join us sooner for the build-up to the action. Until then, it’s goodbye from us. Cheers!

Nat Sciver-Brunt of England Women – She describes the Oval as a special place to play cricket and says she has loved playing there over the years. It is a fantastic venue, she adds, to show people what it means to represent England and inspire the next generation. Sciver-Brunt says she always had complete faith in England’s batting unit. After being reduced to 23/3, she and Heather Knight knew they had an important job to do. She praises the composure they showed, adding that they approached the innings differently from a typical T20 knock. On the pitch, Sciver-Brunt says there was variable bounce throughout. Keeping the stumps in play was important, while cutters and cross-seam deliveries proved effective. She thanks the crowds for their support throughout the tournament, saying the atmosphere has been incredible. Even during the game, she managed to take it all in and is already looking forward to experiencing it again at Lord’s. On her fitness, Sciver-Brunt says her calf is feeling good. Looking ahead to the final, she calls it a massive occasion and says playing a World Cup final at Lord’s is a dream. Adds that Australia are a hugely successful and immensely talented side.

Laura Wolvaardt of South Africa Women – Wolvaardt, on being asked about her emotions, says that it’s a disappointing result, but also says that the English side deserved to win. On being asked what the difference was, she answers that England were good with the ball and had a big partnership, which they really lacked in their innings. About the pitch, she says that the track was pretty good to bat on as the ball was coming nicely to the bat. Reckons that 170 was a par total and the outfield was lightning fast. On the support in the stadium, she says that she is very happy and grateful for the fans who turned up in the stadium to support them. On their tournament as a whole, she says that they had a decent campaign. They didn’t quite find the tempo in the batting unit throughout the tournament, but their bowling and fielding were up to the mark.

Skipper returns with a bang – Earlier in the day, Nat Sciver-Brunt was back in the side for England Women, and even though she wasn’t 100 percent fit, she led the fightback for her side. South Africa Women had the hosts reeling at 23/3 with Marizanne Kapp and Shabnim Ismail breathing fire. However, Nat and former skipper Heather Knight put on a 133-run stand that changed the complexion of the game. Nat was the standout, scoring 75 off just 47 balls, but Knight too struck a half-century. The Proteas pulled things back in the last couple of overs and kept England down to 169 runs.

Another day, another heartbreak – South Africa Women did really well to topple India and reach yet another semi-final, but their shaky batting cost them dearly as it did against the Aussies in their opening encounter as well. Laura Wolvaardt and Tazmin Brits did give the Proteas a decent start, putting on 43 runs for the opening wicket, but Wolvaardt gave her wicket away, and things changed. Brits tried to build a few stands and reached fifty, but the wickets just kept on falling, and Brits too got out soon after. There wasn’t much fight from the middle order, and South Africa were blown away with ease.

Player of the Match – England’s skipper, Nat Sciver-Brunt, is handed the award for her game-changing knock of 75 off just 47 balls. Returning to the side, Sciver-Brunt admits there were plenty of nerves, made bigger by the occasion of a World Cup semifinal. Adds that there were a lot of emotions before the game, but once the warm-up began, she was able to switch on and simply enjoy herself. On facing Marizanne Kapp and Shabnim Ismail, Sciver-Brunt says they are world-class opening bowlers. Shares that the plan was to nullify their threat early and then capitalise against the rest of the attack. Speaking about the pitch, Sciver-Brunt says there was a bit of variable bounce. Mentions that the idea was to stay strong on the stumps and be clear about the scoring areas. Adds that spending time at the crease made batting much easier, while it was difficult for new batters coming in.

Prolific in the field – England Women had the runs on the board, but it was a gettable target. However, once Sophie Ecclestone snaffled that catch of Laura Wolvaardt, the hosts pounced and they were relentless. It was a well-rounded bowling performance with the spinners having their say on a drying track, and Freya Kemp was simply brilliant with her slower ones. Everyone, barring Danielle Gibson, picked up a wicket, but she did bowl just the solo over. All in all, a performance worthy of sealing a place in the Final.

Back in the Final – England Women have made it back into the Women’s T20 World Cup final, and their streak of winning all home World Cups at home is still alive. A completely dominant performance, barring the first few overs of the game, and they have thumped South Africa Women by a huge margin.

Novak Djokovic was in vintage form during his second-round demolition of Stefanos Tsitsipas on Wednesday, underlining his determination to finally win that elusive 25th Grand Slam crown.

Novak Djokovic can move another step closer to history at Wimbledon in the third round on Friday. Defending champion Jannik Sinner is also in action in the last 32, while women’s world number one Aryna Sabalenka faces former French Open winner Jelena Ostapenko. AFP Sport looks at three matches to watch on the fifth day of the tournament (x denotes seeding): Novak Djokovic (SRB x7) v Arthur Rinderknech (FRA x25)

First meeting

Djokovic was in vintage form during his second-round demolition of Stefanos Tsitsipas on Wednesday, underlining his determination to finally win that elusive 25th Grand Slam crown.

The 39-year-old Serb delivered a statement of intent to his Wimbledon title rivals with a masterful straight-sets victory on Centre Court.

Djokovic was so enamoured with his display that he even found time to prank a ball-girl — pretending her repair work on his shirt had hurt him — before jokingly challenging golf star Rory McIlroy, who was watching from the royal box, to a tennis match.

The seven-time Wimbledon champion’s good mood was understandable.

Djokovic, seeded seventh, is now just one match win away from equalling Roger Federer’s Wimbledon men’s singles record of 105.

But Djokovic has greater goals in his sights, aiming to equal Federer’s men’s record of eight Wimbledon titles — which would break his tie with Margaret Court for the most Grand Slam crowns by either a man or woman.

Winning Wimbledon would also make Djokovic the oldest man to lift a Grand Slam trophy in the Open era.

As Djokovic said after beating Tsitsipas; “age is just a number”.

Next up for the ageless Serb is a first ever meeting with French 25th seed Arthur Rinderknech.

Aryna Sabalenka (BLR x1) v Jelena Ostapenko (LAT)

Sabalenka leads head to head 3-1

Bidding to win Wimbledon for the first time, Sabalenka faces a tricky test against Ostapenko in one of the ties of the round.

The four-time Grand Slam champion, who has reached 14 successive major quarter-finals, has not been at her over-powering best so far in the tournament.

The 28-year-old has never won Wimbledon, losing in the semi-finals on each of her past three visits.

And while Sabalenka’s presence in the latter stages of the majors has become a given, she has won only one of the last six Grand Slam tournaments.

That makes 2017 French Open champion Ostapenko an intriguing obstacle for Sabalenka to hurdle.

The 29-year-old reached the Wimbledon semi-finals eight years ago and is capable of rattling Sabalenka with her booming ground-strokes.

Sabalenka has pleaded with Wimbledon chiefs to let her dog Ash into the grounds of the All England Club, but her pet protest has so far fallen on deaf ears.

Perhaps the Belarusian will get a more sympathetic response if she wins the title on July 11.

Jannik Sinner (ITA x1) v Jenson Brooksby (USA)

Sinner leads head to head 1-0

Sinner ended Carlos Alcaraz’s two-year reign as Wimbledon champion with a brilliant final victory over the Spaniard last year.

The four-time Grand Slam champion is still some way from those lofty heights heading into his third round tie against American world number 81 Jenson Brooksby.

Having opted not to play a Wimbledon warm-up event for the first time in his career, Sinner looked a little underprepared in his first and second round wins over Miomir Kecmanovic and Nuno Borges.

Source : https://sports.ndtv.com/wimbledon-2026/djokovic-has-history-in-his-sights-at-wimbledon-11719811

England captain Harry Kane scored a contender for ‘Goal of the tournament ‘ as his 86th-minute strike took the team past DR Congo, into the Round of 16 of the tournament.

Translating his club form into international football for England, Bayern Munich striker Harry Kane struck a ‘Goal of the Tournament’ contender in the FIFA World Cup 2026 Round of 32 clash against DR Congo on Wednesday. England, who trailed Congo until the 75th minute, saw Kane produce an incredible rescue act to bail his team out of a precarious situation. England were staring at early elimination from the tournament when Kane stepped up to score both goals in the Three Lions’ 2-1 win. It was Kane’s second goal of the game that left everyone in awe, as he dazzled past several Congo players before smashing the ball into the top right corner of the net.

Following a partially cleared England attack, substitute Anthony Gordon picked up possession and delivered a dangerous pass to Kane on the edge of the penalty area. Receiving the ball with his back to goal, Kane reacted quickest amidst heavy congestion inside the box. He sharply whirled and twisted away from his direct marker, shifting the ball onto his right foot.

Having created just enough separation against three converging defenders, Kane unleashed a brutal, rising rocket from a challenging angle. The unstoppable strike blazed past DR Congo goalkeeper Lionel Mpasi, who could barely move before the ball rifled into the top-right corner of the net to seal England’s 2-1 comeback victory.

The goal didn’t just seal England’s passage into the Round of 16 to face co-hosts Mexico, this spectacular 86th-minute strike marked Kane’s 13th career World Cup goal. With this hit, he officially surpassed Brazilian football icon Pele (12 goals) on the tournament’s all-time top-scorers list.

Source : https://sports.ndtv.com/fifa-world-cup-2026/harry-kane-scores-potential-goal-of-the-world-cup-beats-several-players-to-bag-winner-11715511

Kylian Mbappe smashed an all-time FIFA World Cup record with his 10th strike in the knockout stages of the tournament.

France’s No. 10, Kylian Mbappe, is rewriting the record books at the FIFA World Cup 2026, and he is doing so with blazing speed. The 28-year-old forward, who plays club football for Real Madrid, bagged a brace on Tuesday as France eliminated Sweden with a 3-0 win in the Round of 32. With his twin strikes, Mbappe went past Germany icon Miroslav Klose in the list of top-scoring players in the tournament’s history, taking his overall tally to 18. With the brace, Mbappe has now scored a whopping 10 goals in World Cup knockouts, a tally that takes him to the No. 1 spot.

With 10 goals in the knockout stages of the FIFA World Cup, Mbappe went past the Brazilian duo of Ronaldo Nazario and Leonidas, both of whom had 8 goals each to their name. Trailing them are France’s Just Fontaine and Brazil’s Pele, who scored 7 goals each in the knockout stages of the tournament.

When it comes to Lionel Messi, who is the all-time top goalscorer in FIFA World Cup history with 19 strikes to his name so far, he has only scored 5 goals in the competition’s knockout matches. His eternal rival, Cristiano Ronaldo, surprisingly, does not have a single knockout goal to his name in World Cup history.

Kylian Mbappé has become the first player in World Cup history to score 10 goals in the knockout stage of the tournament 👏🇫🇷

He is writing an incredible World Cup legacy 🙌 pic.twitter.com/ZoU1jRjR8w

— OneFootball (@OneFootball) June 30, 2026

Mbappe’s sixth goal of the tournament drew him level with Argentina legend Lionel Messi in the race for the Golden Boot.

The French talisman’s predatory efficiency was on full display against Sweden’s compact defence. Supplied by a magnificent hat-trick of assists from playmaker Michael Olise, Mbappe twice found the bottom-right corner with his trademark blistering pace and lethal finishing.

Source : https://sports.ndtv.com/fifa-world-cup-2026/kylian-mbappe-smashes-ronaldos-ultimate-world-cup-record-lionel-messi-not-even-close-11710219?pfrom=home-ndtv_topscroll

 

Beth Mooney produced another masterclass in an ICC knockout match while Ashleigh Gardner capped an outstanding all-round performance as six-time champions Australia crushed West Indies by eight wickets with 42 balls to spare.

Beth Mooney produced another masterclass in an ICC knockout match while Ashleigh Gardner capped an outstanding all-round performance as six-time champions Australia crushed West Indies by eight wickets with 42 balls to spare in the first semifinal of the Women’s T20 World Cup at The Oval on Tuesday, booking their place in the tournament final for the eighth time. Australia’s chase of 126 runs finished with seven overs to spare, marking the biggest victory by balls remaining in the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup knockout history for targets over 100. The previous record was 29 balls remaining, set by Australia against England in the 2014 and 2018 finals. Mooney stayed unbeaten at 61 off 36 balls, achieving the fourth-highest individual score by an Australian in a Women’s T20 World Cup knockout match. Only her own 78 against India in the 2020 final, Alyssa Healy’s 75 against India in the 2020 final, and her 74 against South Africa in the 2023 final rank higher.

Earlier, Australia won the toss and chose to field in the important semi-final. Even before the match began, West Indies faced a setback when star all-rounder Deandra Dottin was taken to the medical room shortly after the national anthems. The West Indies head coach confirmed during the innings break that Dottin experienced a minor medical issue.

West Indies started steadily, with captain Hayley Matthews leading the effort. She looked in good form and hit some impressive boundaries, while Qiana Joseph had trouble rotating the strike at the other end. As dot balls piled up, Australia found the breakthrough they needed when Georgia Wareham took a wicket with her first delivery, getting Matthews out for 30 off 28 balls and ending the 47-run opening partnership. Joseph’s tough innings ended when she scored 16 off 22 balls.

The innings quickly fell apart as West Indies went from 47/1 to 83/6, with Australia’s disciplined bowling taking charge. Shemaine Campbelle tried to rebuild with 22 off 25 balls, but wickets kept falling around her.

A vital 42-run partnership for the seventh wicket between Jannillea Glasgow, who scored 15, and the returning Dottin, who finished not out on 26 off just 16 balls, lifted West Indies to 125/7 after 20 overs. However, this total seemed low against Australia’s strong batting lineup.

Australia began their chase aggressively. Georgia Voll scored regularly until Chinelle Henry dismissed her for 16 off 11 balls, while Phoebe Litchfield managed just 4 before getting out cheaply.

From that point on, Mooney took control. The left-hander kept the scoreboard moving with sharp shot selection, reaching a fantastic half-century off just 29 deliveries, ensuring Australia remained in command throughout the chase.

There was a minor injury concern in the seventh over when Ellyse Perry left the field with a quad issue for assessment. Australia hopes the experienced all-rounder recovers in time for Sunday’s final.

Source : https://sports.ndtv.com/women-s-t20-world-cup-2026/beth-mooney-ashleigh-gardner-shine-to-guide-australia-to-eighth-womens-t20-world-cup-final-11709264

The FIFA World Cup 2026 knockouts have started. It’s here that things get really, really serious. One misstep and years of hard work can go to waste

The FIFA World Cup 2026 knockouts have started. It’s here that things get really, really serious. One misstep and years of hard work can go to waste. Some heroes will fall, while others will seal their legacy. In the group stage, among the big guns, Lionel Messi outshone others with six goals in three matches. It has taken his total tally in the FIFA World Cup across editions to 19 – most by any man in history. It’s almost astounding that the veteran Messi has more goals in the FIFA World Cup 2026 than a band of top young contenders like Kylian Mbappe (4), Vinicius Junior (4), and Erling Haaland (4).

However, in the FIFA World Cup 2026 ‘Power Rankings’ (a new individual player ranking system based on data collected during matches), Argentina great Messi is not the No. 1 outfield player (as per the rankings released after the end of the group stage and before the Round of 32). In fact, France’s Kylian Mbappe and Brazil’s Vinicius Junior also do not hold the No. 1 spot.

According to FIFA, “The Power Rankings is considered a measure of match and tournament performance: each player receives a score for each match and for their overall performance in the tournament. All outfield players will receive a score between 0-10 in the three categories: attacking, creativity, and defending. Goalkeepers will be scored in possession and defending the goal.”

Who Is The No. 1 Player?

As per FIFA’s latest Power Rankings, Germany’s Deniz Undav is the No. 1 player. The VfB Stuttgart player got 8.36 in attacking, 6.78 in creativity, and 4.7 in defending. Messi is the No. 2 player with a score of 8.34 in attacking, 6.43 in creativity, and 5.14 in defending.

Kylian Mbappe (8.13, 7.25, 4.59) and Vinicius Junior (7.92, 6.39, 4.75) are the No. 3 and No. 4 players. Portugal’s Ronaldo is 79th (5.72, 4.98, 4.74).

Surprise Star of World Cup

Deniz Undav, one of the surprise stars of this World Cup, is playing for powerhouse Germany. Yet, with his Yazidi and Kurdish heritage, the 29-year-old striker is representing two communities on the global stage with no realistic chance of having World Cup teams of their own.

After entering as a substitute for Germany, Undav scored three goals and set up two more, putting him just behind top-scoring superstars such as Argentina’s Lionel Messi, Kylian Mbappé of France, and Vinicius Jr. of Brazil on the leaderboard.

Undav, who identifies as a Kurdish Yazidi, is the son of Yazidi refugees. His success is being celebrated by a small, insular community that has endured decades of oppression and violence, notably a 2014 onslaught in which thousands of Yazidis in Iraq’s Sinjar region were killed or abducted by militants from the Islamic State group, who considered them to be heretics.

Responding to a question at a news conference Wednesday, the German-born Undav said he hoped his performance would inspire fans everywhere, especially within the Yazidi community.

Source : https://sports.ndtv.com/fifa-world-cup-2026/messi-is-not-the-no-1-world-cup-2026-performer-in-fifa-rankings-not-even-mbappe-or-haaland-ronaldo-is-79th-11704015?pfrom=home-ndtv_fifa

India suffered a stunning 0-2 series defeat as the Shreyas Iyer-led side slumped to a one-run loss against Ireland in the second T20I encounter.

India suffered a stunning 0-2 series defeat as the Shreyas Iyer-led side slumped to a one-run loss against Ireland in the second T20I encounter on Sunday. This was India’s first T20I series loss in 1050 days as their last series defeat came against West Indies back in August 2023. India lost the first T20I clash by 34 runs. Batting first, Ireland scored 154/8 with Harry Tector slamming a brilliant half-century and Benjamin Calitz scored 37. In reply, Tilak Varma scored 55 off 46 deliveries but Jai Moondra and Matthew Hollard took three wickets each as India fell just one run short of the target.

It was Ireland’s first-ever series win over India in any format. They had beaten the reigning T20 world champions by 34 runs in the first match a couple of days back.

Ireland laboured to a 154 for eight in 20 overs, but India could only reach 153 for nine in 20 overs despite Prince Yadav striking a last-ball six.

Vice-captain Tilak Varma top-scored for the tourists with a 55 off 46 balls.

Jai Moondra and Matt Hollard took three wickets each for Ireland.

“Not a great series but kudos to them with the way they played. They had a tremendous idea how the wicket would play and the field work was phenomenonal. The bowlers were phenomenonal with their execution. They outplayed us in that department. He has got great experience in the IPL, he has his own set of ideas and plans when he comes on to bowl, Suryansh as well. It is an honour and a pleasure to be here,” Indian cricket team skipper Shreyas Iyer said after the match.

Ireland captain Lorcan Tucker praised his team and said that the players showed a lot of character.

Source : https://sports.ndtv.com/ireland-vs-india-2026/1st-time-in-1050-days-india-suffer-big-blow-with-t20i-series-loss-against-ireland-11699613

India’s wait for a maiden ICC T20 Women’s World Cup title continues as the Women in Blue were knocked out by Australia on Sunday. Harmanpreet Kaur and Co needed a win at Lord’s to qualify for the semi-final but suffered a 6-wicket defeat despite a half-century from their captain.

India’s wait for a maiden ICC T20 Women’s World Cup title continues as the Women in Blue were knocked out by Australia on Sunday. Harmanpreet Kaur and Co needed a win at Lord’s to qualify for the semi-final but suffered a 6-wicket defeat despite a half-century from their captain.

Earlier, captain Harmanpreet Kaur produced a sensational unbeaten 56 off 27 balls as India posted a challenging 170/4 at Lord’s. After electing to bat, India got off to a steady start through openers Smriti Mandhana (38) and Shafali Verma (34), who added 74 runs before Australia’s bowlers struck back. Mandhana’s innings ended in a costly run-out following a mix-up with Jemimah Rodrigues.

Source : https://www.freepressjournal.in/sports/india-knocked-out-of-icc-womens-t20-world-cup-2026-as-australia-hand-6-wicket-defeat-at-lords

 

Harmanpreet Kaur went past Mithali Raj to create T20 World Cup history for India. The India captain scored crucial 36 runs against arch-rivals Pakistan.

Harmanpreet Kaur etched her name in record books and created history for India as she went past Mithali Raj to become India’s highest run-scorer at the T20 World Cup. Mithali, who retired from T20I cricket in 2019, scored 726 runs in 23 innings from 2009 to 2018. She was dropped for the 2018 WC semi-final against England. Harmanpreet shared the top spot with Mithali and went past her right after opening her account.

Harmanpreet, who scored 36 runs against Pakistan, now has the most T20 World Cup runs for India. She has scored 762 runs in 34 innings. Her tally includes 1 century and 4 half-centuries.

Harmanpreet made her T20 WC debut in the inaugural edition in 2009 and has featured in every edition so far. She replaced Mithali as the T20I captain in 2016.

Suzie Bates tops the overall list of batters with the most runs in the Women’s T20 WC. She has scored 1216 runs in 42 matches. Bates will retire from international cricket after the ongoing ICC event. She is followed by Stephanie Taylor, who has 1014 runs. Alyssa Healy sits in the third position. Healy scored 1008 runs in 42 matches.

Canada’s first World Cup victory was overshadowed by the injury to Kone, who was taken off on a stretcher and later underwent surgery on broken tibia and fibula in his left leg.

Qatar football player Assim Madibo has been handed a hefty penalty after his reckless tackle that broke the leg of Canadian midfielder Ismael Kone during a FIFA World Cup 2026 match. The incident happened last week in Vancouver, where Canada celebrated a massive 6-0 victory over Qatar. However, the historic win was completely overshadowed by Kone’s severe injury. In the 51st minute of the game, Madibo tackled Kone from behind. Nearby players immediately knew something was terribly wrong. Kone fell to the ground in agony, holding his leg and covering his mouth in pain.

Medical staff rushed to the pitch, and Kone had to be carried off on a stretcher. He was taken straight to the hospital, where he underwent emergency surgery for a broken tibia and fibula (the two main bones in the lower leg).

Madibo was shown a straight red card and sent off the field immediately. Following the match, the Qatar player was visibly upset by what had happened and went to apologise to Kone in person.

The FIFA disciplinary committee reviewed the incident and announced the five-match suspension on Wednesday, citing “serious foul play.” While Qatar has the right to appeal the decision, the team did not immediately comment on the situation when contacted by reporters. Such injuries take a lot of time to heal, meaning Kone is likely to be out for several months.

Meanwhile, Kone shared an emotional message with his fans on Instagram, writing: “You can’t even imagine how grateful I am to everyone who reached out and that has me in their prayers.”

While a five-match ban is severe, it is not the harshest penalty FIFA has ever handed out at a World Cup tournament.

Source : https://sports.ndtv.com/fifa-world-cup-2026/fifa-bans-qatars-assim-madibo-for-5-games-after-leg-breaking-foul-on-canadas-ismael-kone-in-world-cup-11683306?pfrom=home-ndtv_topscroll

The BCCI selectors continue to show their faith in veteran Rohit Sharma for the England ODI series that starts next month.

The BCCI selectors continued to show their faith in veteran Rohit Sharma for the England ODI series that starts next month. While the experience and class that Rohit brings to the table is unquestionable, former India star Sanjay Manjrekar feels for young batting talent Yashasvi Jaiswal. The left-handed opener has scored two tons in his last three ODI games, and yet has not been given a long rope by the BCCI selectors. In fact, in the India vs Afghanistan series, Jaiswal scored an unbeaten 110 in the third ODI.

“Yashasvi has scored two hundreds in his last three ODIs. He made 116 not out against South Africa, then after a gap scored four and a hundred. Anyone opening in India’s strong ODI side will get opportunities, and Yashasvi has made the most of them. So yes, it is unfortunate and a bit harsh,” Manjrekar told TOI.

“If the selectors have picked Rohit, I hope it’s because they genuinely see him as part of the 2027 World Cup plans.”

Manjrekar said that the BCCI and the Indian cricket team management need to see beyond the big name if needed.

“We all know the culture around big-name players. Decisions are rarely as simple as judging on cricketing merit alone. That seems to be the case with Rohit too. If the selectors believe Rohit is part of the long-term plan, they should say so. But if he is being picked because they are not ready to drop him, then it reflects a problem Indian cricket has had for years. Selection should never be about what’s best for Virat, Rohit or Bumrah. It should always be about what’s best for Indian cricket,” Manjrekar said.

Source : https://sports.ndtv.com/cricket/bcci-selectors-sent-clear-message-selection-should-never-be-about-whats-best-for-virat-kohli-rohit-sharma-or-jasprit-bumrah-11683305

Kohli announced his retirement from Test cricket in May last year, marking an end to an illustrious 14-year-old career which saw him dominate a variety of conditions, regions, and opponents in whites, both as a batter and captain.

Indian batting icon Virat Kohli ruled out any possibility of returning to Test cricket, saying that he is “done with it”. Virat was speaking at the launch event of the sportswear brand one8, a brand where he is a co-founder, in the national capital on Sunday. Famous host and comedian Danish Sait, observing that one of the shoes of the brand cost 9,230 rupees, the same number as his Test runs, asked the 37-year-old if he would like to return to Test cricket in order to score more runs and boost the item’s profitability, to which Virat humorously replied, “I would rather undersell, I’m done with it (Test cricket), thank you.”

Kohli announced his retirement from Test cricket in May last year, marking an end to an illustrious 14-year-old career which saw him dominate a variety of conditions, regions, and opponents in whites, both as a batter and captain.

In his Test career, the 36-year-old made 123 appearances in white clothing, scoring 9,230 runs at an average of 46.85, with 30 centuries and 31 fifties in 210 innings and the best score of 254*. He is India’s fourth-highest run-getter in the format, behind Sachin Tendulkar (15,921 runs), Rahul Dravid (13,265 runs) and Sunil Gavaskar (10,122 runs).

He was India’s most successful Test captain, with 40 wins in 68 matches, since he first took over the reins in 2014 during the tour of Australia in the absence of an injured MS Dhoni.

Later, while speaking in front of a packed crowd at Dwarka, Virat reflected on how his journey began as a cricketer in Delhi, and expressed happiness at being able to launch the brand where it all started for him.

Source : https://sports.ndtv.com/cricket/i-am-done-virat-kohli-clears-air-on-big-question-about-his-future-11668105

Iran’s goalkeeper Alireza Beiranvand overcame extreme poverty and hardship to become a record-holding goalkeeper, now shining on football’s biggest stage.

Who said the 48-team FIFA World Cup was going to be boring, with too many one-sided matches? As the group stage of the tournament nears its conclusion, some heroic performances have been witnessed, especially from the goalkeepers of smaller nations like Cape Verde, Curacao, and Iran. After some brilliant performances in goal by Vozinha and Eloy Room, it was time for Iran’s goalkeeper, Alireza Beiranvand, to shine. Beiranvand put in a heroic show between the sticks to help Iran earn a goalless draw against Belgium, a team ranked No. 9 in the world by FIFA. While the ongoing World Cup in the US, Canada, and Mexico has seen some phenomenal goalkeeping performances, Beiranvand’s story sets him apart from the rest.

As Belgium took on Iran in search of three points, they came across a 6’4″ man named Alireza Beiranvand. He made seven saves, collected the Player of the Match trophy, and held together a clean sheet that, by all sporting laws, should never have existed.

Long before he was frustrating Europe’s elite, Beiranvand was a kid running away from home. Born into a nomadic Kurdish Lak family in the rugged hills of Lorestan, his childhood was defined by extreme poverty and a father who fiercely opposed his dream of playing football. To his family, football was an unaffordable luxury; a pair of gloves was equivalent to throwing money away.

So, as a teenager, Beiranvand took a gamble that would break most adults. He borrowed pocket money, ran away, and boarded a bus heading toward the chaos of Tehran.

When Beiranvand arrived in the Iranian capital, he didn’t have a bed, a room, or an acquaintance. For months, he slept on the streets outside local football clubs, figuring that if he was going to freeze, he might as well do it close to the grass. To buy basic meals, he had to sweep streets, scrub down tyres at a car wash, work assembly lines in a dressmaking factory, and even prepare dough in a late-night pizza shop.

It was during those punishing early years that coaches noticed something bizarre about Beiranvand’s physiology. Growing up in the hills, he had spent his childhood playing a local game called Dalparan, which involved throwing heavy rocks over massive distances to protect sheep.

That repetitive chore had forged an upper body unlike anything ever seen in modern football. Today, he is an official double Guinness World Record holder for two different achievements:

– The longest throw ever recorded in football: Achieved during a match against South Korea in October 2016, when he launched the ball an astonishing 200.14 feet (61.002 metres).

– The longest drop kick in football history: Measured at a monstrous 255.95 feet (78.014 metres).

Beiranvand’s Defiance Amid Iran’s Logistical Nightmare

Against Belgium, it wasn’t his historic, line-breaking distribution that caught the headlines, but rather his pure shot-stopping ability. What makes this 2026 World Cup run genuinely historic for Iran isn’t just the tactical setup on the pitch-it is the absurd bureaucratic nightmare off it.

Due to intense geopolitical friction and visa constraints, Team Melli couldn’t even establish a proper base camp inside the United States. While other nations enjoy luxury training facilities, the Iranian squad has been forced to set up camp across the border in Mexico.

The logistics have been brutal. The team has regularly been forced into exhausting travel windows, sometimes only receiving clearance to enter the United States roughly 24 hours before the referee blows the opening whistle. To expect elite athletes to perform under that kind of physical jet lag and mental exhaustion is wildly unreasonable. To expect them to shut out Belgium is a sporting miracle.

Source : https://sports.ndtv.com/fifa-world-cup-2026/two-guinness-records-90-minutes-of-defiance-the-unreal-story-of-iran-goalkeeper-alireza-beiranvand-11668840?pfrom=home-ndtv_topscroll

The United States will ​continue to assess the Iran squad’s travel arrangements at the World Cup but for now the original plan remains in ‌place despite the team saying they would lodge a complaint with FIFA, Andrew Giuliani, executive director of the White House Task Force for the tournament, told Reuters on Saturday.

Iran are unhappy at restrictions that mean they can only travel to venues within 24 hours of their fixtures and must depart back to their ​training base in Tijuana, Mexico directly after each game, with coach Amir Ghalenoei suggesting his side were “the most oppressed team ​in the whole World Cup”.

Giuliani, however, says the situation is fluid and they will discuss what measures will ⁠be in place for Iran’s third game against Egypt in Seattle on Friday, after their meeting with Belgium in Los Angeles on Sunday.

“The situation ​is dynamic,” Giuliani said in an exclusive interview in Houston. “We have a plan right now. Tomorrow afternoon (after the match against Belgium) they ​will take the 27-minute flight back to Tijuana.

“We will see how it goes for match two, and then there will be discussions the day after in terms of what it looks like for match three in Seattle.”

Giuliani defended the measures in place and said the pre-tournament change in training bases for the ​side from Tucson to Tijuana had shortened Iran’s travel time.

“The shift from Tucson to Tijuana, I think, was good for everybody involved, certainly ​it reduces their travel time to Los Angeles too,” he said. “Their flight is an hour shorter than it would be from Tucson. And we’re happy ‌with the ⁠way that things went for match one in Los Angeles.

“I would just point to the fact that all players have received visas. All the coaches have received visas. There are some team officials that have not received visas, and that’s because we’ve seen some derogatory information on them, and this is the balance that we talk about.”

PROTECTING INTERESTS OF U.S.

Giuliani said the goal has always been to protect ​the interests of the United States ​and the international visitors at ⁠the World Cup.

“We want to make sure we have this incredible soccer tournament, where people are welcome and enjoy the World Cup, while also making sure that we are not just protecting American citizens, ​but we’re also protecting all those international visitors that are coming here,” he said.

He revealed that ​no threats to the ⁠tournament had been identified, but that officials remain vigilant.

“What I can tell you is our intelligence community has tripled down on this since the beginning of this year,” he said. “We’re in discussions every hour on it. But there have been no credible threats at this moment.”

Source : https://www.reuters.com/sports/soccer/us-defends-iran-world-cup-travel-restrictions-says-discussions-ongoing-2026-06-20

The win moved the US onto six points and guaranteed them a place in the last 32 with one group match remaining.

The United States advanced to the World Cup knockout stage with a dominant performance against Australia on Friday (Jun 19), an early own goal and an Alex Freeman header giving the co-hosts a comfortable 2-0 win despite missing talisman Christian Pulisic.

Just as they had in their 4-1 victory over Paraguay, the US forced an own goal to open the scoring, with Cameron Burgess the unfortunate defender.

Freeman nodded in the simplest of headers just before the break, the goal initially ruled out for offside but given on review, prompting the US bench to flood the pitch in celebration.

“It was surreal … obviously at first it was disallowed so I was kind of anxious when it went to VAR,” Freeman said.

“It was so emotional for me because you dream of this moment.”

Australia coach Tony Popovic dropped both goalscorers, Nestory Irankunda and Connor Metcalfe, from the Socceroos’ 2-0 win over Türkiye and brought them on at half-time to try to turn the tide.

Australia improved but rarely looked like getting back into the match in a second half which became increasingly fractious and lacked quality.

“I don’t know if it was the occasion, but we looked sluggish, heavy-legged,” Popovic said.

“I think the players showed how good they are in the second half, but obviously at this level you can’t give away that much in the first.”

The US moved onto six points and into the last 32 before their last game against Türkiye next Thursday in Los Angeles, when coach Mauricio Pochettino hopes to have Pulisic available.

“But if we want to win the competition, we need the whole team. And all the players need to be important,” he said.

Source : https://www.channelnewsasia.com/sport/us-australia-world-cup-match-result-6196441

Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli’s prospects to make India’s 2027 World Cup squad have been thrown into further doubt following recent comments by BCCI secretary Devajit Saikia.

The deliberations on India’s roadmap for the 2027 World Cup are “not meant for public consumption”, BCCI secretary Devajit Saikia said in an interview to PTI, refusing to be drawn into any discussion on individual players and their much-speculated future in the team. Veterans Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli dominate the chatter whenever there is any talk around the Indian team’s 2027 global campaign but Saikia is categorical that “strategic discussions in the board room” are best left inside. While both former skippers are determined to play the mega-event, chairman of selectors Ajit Agarkar and head coach Gautam Gambhir have been non-committal on whether the squad will have space for the white-ball legends.

Rohit, 39, and Kohli, 37, are only active in the ODI format for India, having retired from the other two. However, despite being in relatively good form, Saikia’s response over their future leaves more questions than answers.

Much like Gambhir and Agarkar, Saikia has maintained a non-committal stance on Rohit and Kohli’s 2027 World Cup chances, which does not provide definitive clarity over the spots of the two Indian batting greats.

Asked if the BCCI has had any internal conversations on the matter, Saikia said all stakeholders are aligned in their views in what is essentially an ongoing process.

“We have a very well-knit team and a lot of experts. All stakeholders are taken on board,” Saikia told PTI during an exclusive interaction.

“Whatever decisions that are made involve the cricket committee, the selectors and all other stakeholders, including the support staff, the head coach and the players concerned.

“There are regular conversations taking place. For that reason, we do not need any special session of interaction. This is an ongoing process,” the secretary said, keeping all his cards close to his chest.

Source : https://sports.ndtv.com/india-vs-afghanistan-2026/bccis-comment-on-rohit-sharma-virat-kohlis-2027-world-cup-spot-provides-more-questions-than-answers-11660183

Former India fast bowler Sreesanth revealed the details of his heated altercation with current India head coach Gautam Gambhir in 2023.

Former India pacer S Sreesanth has spoken out in further detail of his run-in with current India head coach and former teammate Gautam Gambhir at a Legends League Cricket (LLC) match in December 2023. Earlier, Sreesanth had revealed that Gambhir had called him a “fixer”. However, in a recent interview, Sreesanth has delved further about the altercation, claiming that Gambhir had also labelled him a ‘Deshdrohi’ (traitor; one who betrays their nation). He said that the incident took place after he had bowled a bouncer at Gambhir.

“Gauti (Gambhir) stepped out on the first ball and flicked it because he knows my (game), he’s a very good cricketer. I don’t know about the coaching part, but he’s a very good cricketer. So, I bowled the bouncer,” Sreesanth said, narrating his experience in an interview on Lallantop.

“And you know what he said? ‘I own you’. It was clear, he abused me. What he shouldn’t have said, he did, he called me a ‘fixer’,” Sreesanth said.

“I leaned forward and asked him, ‘Gauti bhai, are you okay?’ Because I was huge, it looked like I would hit him. Then he was doing ‘F-F’ (using the F-word). Then he again said ‘fixer’, ‘Deshdrohi’,” Sreesanth further claimed.

Gambhir and Sreesanth were part of India’s victorious 2007 T20 World Cup and 2011 ODI World Cup squads. However, their relationship has evidently soured after the end of their playing days.

Gambhir’s comments were seemingly based on the ban that Sreesanth received after being accused of spot-fixing during IPL 2013. Initially a life ban, the BCCI later reduced it to a seven-year ban, meaning Sreesanth could resume playing in 2020.

Meanwhile, Gambhir now finds himself in the head coach hotseat of the senior India men’s cricket team. Under his coaching, India have already lifted the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 and the T20 World Cup 2026.

Source : https://sports.ndtv.com/cricket/gautam-gambhir-called-me-deshdrohi-used-f-word-sreesanth-reveals-stunning-details-of-fight-with-india-head-coach-11661677?pfrom=home-ndtv_topstories

Portugal’s Joao Neves etched his name into the record books after becoming the third-youngest Portuguese scorer in FIFA World Cup history during their 1-1 draw against DR Congo

Though Cristiano Ronaldo failed to score for Portugal against DR Congo in a FIFA World Cup match, the game saw another player’s rise. Portugal’s Joao Neves etched his name into the record books after becoming the third-youngest Portuguese scorer in FIFA World Cup history during their 1-1 draw against DR Congo in the 2026 edition. Neves, aged 21 years and 263 days, found the net in Portugal’s opening group-stage fixture, continuing a strong tradition of young Portuguese talent making an impact on football’s biggest stage.

With this feat, he now sits behind only Cristiano Ronaldo, who scored at the 2006 World Cup at 21 years and 132 days, and Goncalo Ramos, who netted in 2022 at 21 years and 169 days.

Neves helped Portugal get off to a bright start, taking the lead in the sixth minute when Pedro Neto delivered a pinpoint cross, which he powered into the far corner with a fine header for his fourth international goal.

Meanwhile, Ronaldo’s Portugal were left frustrated after being held to a 1-1 draw by underdogs DR Congo in their opening World Cup group match, as Yoane Wissa’s equaliser cancelled out Joao Neves’ early strike.

After the match, he said: “We know what Cristiano has done for us, for our national team, and for the world of football. But at this moment, he and we know that he is no different. He is just another player here to help. He is no different from the others. He is here to contribute, just like all of us. He played very well. I think the whole team played an excellent game.”

PORTUGAL SE ESTÁ ROMPIENDO EN REDES 🚨💔

Las declaraciones de Joao Neves y un simple comentario de Bruno Fernandes han desatado una auténtica tormenta entre algunos aficionados portugueses.

Todo comenzó cuando Neves afirmó que Cristiano Ronaldo “es un jugador más dentro del… pic.twitter.com/Ng7NBGfkTq

— Motivaciones Fútbol (@MotivacionesF) June 19, 2026

The comment was misunderstood, and he faced social media backlash.

However, in response to a reporter’s question about Neves’ remarks, Spanish coach Roberto Martinez commented, “I think that statement can be easily misunderstood. Cristiano Ronaldo’s status in this team cannot be diminished. We are talking about one of the greatest footballers in history. He has achieved everything. He has scored more goals for Portugal than any other player, broken countless records, and continues to fight for this country.”

Source : https://sports.ndtv.com/fifa-world-cup-2026/portugal-star-joao-neves-faces-backlash-after-just-another-player-remark-on-cristiano-ronaldo-after-fifa-world-cup-draw-11661698?pfrom=home-ndtv_topstories

Morocco outmuscled Scotland for a 1-0 win thanks to the tournament’s fastest goal on Friday, taking control ​of Group C in the World Cup and moving into top spot with one match left to play.

The North Africans, surprise semi-finalists ‌four years ago, were in control throughout despite the deceptive scoreline, bullying the Scots into submission and scoring the winner with Ismael Saibari after 71 seconds of play.

Morocco, who did not translate their dominance into more goals, now have four points from their two matches and will next play Haiti on Wednesday. Scotland, with three points from two games, face ​five-time champions Brazil on the last matchday. Brazil and Haiti face each other later on Friday.

The top two teams of each group win ​automatic qualification for the round of 32, along with the eight best third-placed teams.

“We would have liked to score ⁠that second goal to be more at ease, but we wanted to keep them really, really high up so they wouldn’t get too close to ​our box,” said Morocco coach Mohamed Ouahbi.

“When it’s 1-0 at the end, that’s the Scots’ quality. But it’s okay. That’s what I said too: no panic, no ​panic, we do what needs to be done, we defend, we keep pressing. But we played a great match. We lacked a bit of efficiency.”

“We are happy, we keep going. The road is still long, but it was important to win today,” he added.

Morocco completed a total of 601 passes against Scotland, the most by an African team in ​a World Cup match on record since 1966.

EARLY GOAL

The Scots were brimming with confidence after their 1-0 opening win over Haiti for their first World Cup ​victory in 36 years but were quickly brought down to earth.

Their opponents needed less than two minutes to open their account with Saibari slipping in behind the defence to ‌latch on ⁠to a Brahim Diaz through ball as defender Grant Hanley stepped out too early, and he powered in his shot for the earliest goal in this World Cup.

Saibari, who scored in their 1-1 draw against Brazil last week and has reportedly passed a medical to join German champions Bayern Munich, became only the second African player to score in his first two appearances at the World Cup, after Egypt’s Mohamed Salah.

The Moroccans, who saw captain Achraf Hakimi booed by Scottish fans with ​the player facing a rape trial, came ​close again when Azzedine Ounahi charged ⁠down the left, cut the ball back but a pair of Moroccan players narrowly failed to connect in front of goal.

Ounahi had raised eyebrows a day earlier, saying his team were aiming to reach the final, but they showed ​they mean business as the Scots failed to get a single shot towards goal until deep in first-half ​stoppage time.

Instead they had ⁠to play constant catch-up with Moroccans pressing, winning possession and breaking through seemingly at will, with Bilal El Khannouss firing over the bar after yet another superb move.

Source : https://www.reuters.com/sports/soccer/morocco-beat-scotland-1-0-saibari-scores-again-2026-06-20

KNICKS superstar Jalen Brunson clapped back at his critics during his victory speech after over a million fans flooded Lower Manhattan to celebrate the team’s first championship since 1973.

Hundreds of fans erupted in applause as New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani personally handed keys to the city to the team’s coaching staff, front office, and players during the closing ceremony at City Hall.

The joyous celebration was over half a century in the making after the Knickerbockers ended the city’s 53-year championship drought with their Game 5 victory over the rival San Antonio Spurs in the NBA Finals.

Finals MVP Brunson had the final laugh at the NBA pundits who criticized the Knicks for signing their superstar point guard in July 2022.

At the time, the Knicks were ridiculed by several fans and sports commentators for signing Brunson to a four-year, $104 million contract.

The announcement was viewed as another self-sabotaging move by New York who failed to sign other big free agents on the market at the time like Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving.

Pundits questioned Brunson’s stature and said he was “too small” to lead a team to a championship.

However, Brunson shouted out his critics without mentioning their names, saying, “There’s a lot of people who have a lot of negative stuff to say.

“There’s a lot of people who have their own opinions.

“But when you prove them wrong, you don’t have to say s**t to them. They don’t deserve it.”

Source : https://www.the-sun.com/sport/16531994/new-york-knicks-championship-parade-nba/

Teboho Mokoena’s penalty kept South Africa’s dream of reaching the World Cup knockout stages for the first time alive after a 1-1 draw with the Czech Republic in Atlanta on Thursday.

Teboho Mokoena’s penalty kept South Africa’s dream of reaching the World Cup knockout stages for the first time alive after a 1-1 draw with the Czech Republic in Atlanta on Thursday. Michal Sadilek’s early opener had the Czechs on course for just their second World Cup win as an independent nation. But Mokoena’s late spot-kick kept both teams in the hunt for the last 32, although they will almost certainly have to win their final Group A fixture to advance.

Both sides move onto one point, two behind co-hosts Mexico and South Korea, who face off later on Thursday.

South Africa next face South Korea, while the Czech Republic take on the daunting task of playing Mexico in the Estadio Azteca.

“I think we deserved more today because we played a very good game,” said South Africa coach Hugo Broos.

“But if we go on like that, and if we can make another performance like today, I think we have a chance to go in the second round.”

Both sides started with disappointing performances and defeats on the World Cup’s opening day, but the Czechs quickly set about making amends.

Patrik Schick is the biggest name in a Czech side lacking the star quality of previous generations but the Bayer Leverkusen forward missed a glorious chance inside the first minute when he planted a header wide.

Miroslav Koubek’s men only had to wait another five minutes to take the lead.

Adam Hlozek’s cross was classily cushioned by Alexandr Sojka into the path of Sadilek, who calmly stroked the ball past Ronwen Williams.

Now in their fourth attempt, South Africa have never progressed beyond the group stage at the World Cup.

Broos has overseen an upturn in Bafana Bafana’s fortunes since taking charge five years ago.

The 2010 hosts had not qualified for the World Cup since 2002 but finished third at the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations.

Their return to the global stage has exposed a lack of quality, though, particularly in forward areas.

The Czechs were left to rue not making more of their chances to kill the game off early in the second half.

“We are sorry about the result because I think that looking at the chances, we were closer to victory but we were not able to score the second goal,” said Koubek.

“If we score the second goal, it would be the end of the match.”

There were thousands of empty seats on show at the futuristic home of the NFL’s Atlanta Falcons, but those that were in attendance loudly booed the mid-half hydration breaks in an enclosed and air-conditioned stadium.

The majority of the crowd were backing South Africa and finally had something to cheer seven minutes from time.

Thapelo Maseko’s shot hit the arm of the unfortunate Pavel Sulc and referee Tori Penso, part of an all-female officiating team, pointed to the spot.

Mokoena confidently drilled home the spot-kick for his nation’s first World Cup goal in 16 years.

Source : https://sports.ndtv.com/fifa-world-cup-2026/south-africa-hold-czech-republic-keep-fifa-world-cup-knockout-dream-alive-11656826

The Telangana Cricket Association (TCA) has issued legal notices to cricketers Mohammed Siraj, Ambati Rayudu and Tilak Varma

The Telangana Cricket Association (TCA) has issued legal notices to actors Vijay Deverakonda and Venkatesh Daggubati, along with cricketers Mohammed Siraj, Ambati Rayudu and Tilak Varma, over their reported association with the proposed TG20 League, alleging that the tournament is being conducted without mandatory approval from the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI). Speaking to ANI, TCA General Secretary Gurava Reddy said the association has objected to celebrities endorsing what it described as an “illegal” and “unapproved” league being organised by the Hyderabad Cricket Association (HCA).

“Today, the Telangana Cricket Association has sent legal notices to Vijay Deverakonda, Venkatesh Daggubati, international cricketer Siraj, former cricketer Ambati Rayudu and Tilak Varma, questioning their association with the tainted and illegal TG20 League proposed to be conducted by the Hyderabad Cricket Association,” Reddy told ANI.

According to the notice, the TCA has alleged that the Hyderabad Cricket Association (HCA) is conducting business with corporate entities without BCCI authorisation and that promoting the proposed TG20 League without such approval amounts to an offence. The association has raised concerns over the league’s regulatory status and the potential implications of celebrity endorsements.

“The Hyderabad Cricket Association, conducting the TG20 league, has changed its name in due course from Telangana Premier League to TTL, then to the TG20 Premier League, and now TG20. They say they have some prefix, some names, some sponsors’ names now, but basically they do not have two primary mandates to conduct any franchise-based Premier League at the state level. All the BCCI members should adopt two rules: Rule number 28. The governing council, which is supposed to conduct and organise this league, has to be elected by the association’s general body in an annual general meeting, and the chairman of this league — it is mandatory that the chairman of the league should be elected by the general body of the association — which did not happen,” he added.

Reddy said the TCA would move court if the celebrities continued to be associated with the tournament.

“Hyderabad Cricket Association wants to overcome the lack of legality and compliance by using celebrities and misleading stakeholders. That is why we are objecting. We have sent notices and will also file legal suits against them if they continue to associate with this league,” he said.

Source : https://sports.ndtv.com/cricket/tilak-varma-mohammed-siraj-issued-legal-notice-for-association-with-tainted-and-illegal-league-report-11655851?pfrom=home-ndtv_topstories

Johan Manzambi said he hoped he had repaid the faith shown in him after coming off the bench to score twice in Switzerland’s 4-1 win over ​Bosnia and Herzegovina in Group B of the World Cup on Thursday.

The 20-year-old midfielder ‌was introduced late in the second half at Los Angeles Stadium and made an immediate impact, striking twice to seal a victory that lifted Swiss spirits after a disappointing 1-1 draw with Qatar in their opener.

“It’s incredible, ​it’s the first brace of my entire career,” Manzambi said. “And to do it at the ​World Cup, especially after we didn’t get off to the best start.”

Manzambi said ⁠he had not had many options when the chance for his first goal arrived in ​a crowded penalty area.

“Honestly, there wasn’t much space in the box,” he said. “I don’t think there were ​a thousand options, but – thank God – it came off.”
The Freiburg player said he had entered the match determined to make an impact rather than feeling any nerves on the sport’s biggest stage.

“I came on with the mindset ​of wanting to help my team, to give the best I could,” he said. “The advice I ​got was purely tactical. (Swiss coach Murat Yakin) told me to let my talent shine, and I think I showed ‌that.”

Yakin ⁠praised Manzambi’s versatility and unpredictability, saying the youngster’s range of qualities gave his side another attacking option.

“Johan is just a very happy person with so many football qualities,” Yakin said. “He had a very good season with Freiburg. He is very versatile – in defence, midfield, on the flanks, as a ​striker.”

Yakin added that Manzambi still ​needed to develop ⁠more structure in his game but said Switzerland were willing to give him freedom.

“He put a lot of pressure on the opponent,” Yakin said. “He’s a ​player who can surprise us as well as the opponent.”

Yakin said Manzambi ​could yet ⁠earn a starting role.

“Maybe we can use Johan right from the start,” he said.

Source : https://www.reuters.com/sports/soccer/swiss-wonderkid-manzambi-dazzles-world-cup-win-2026-06-18

Smriti Mandhana and Shafali Verma sizzled with the bat as India coasted to an emphatic 95-run win over the Netherlands in their Women’s T20 World Cup match

It was a statement win by the Indian cricket team at the Women’s T20 World Cup. Smriti Mandhana and Shafali Verma sizzled with the bat as India coasted to an emphatic 95-run win over the Netherlands in their Women’s T20 World Cup match on Wednesday. The Indian opening duo of Mandhana (74 off 47 balls) and Shafali (55 off 38 balls) slayed a hapless Netherlands attack to fire India to 209/5, their highest total in the tournament’s history. In fact, India are now the second team after England to score over 200 in a T20 World Cup match.

Highest team totals in Women’s T20 World Cup

219/1 – ENG-W vs SL-W, Edgbaston, 2026

213/5 – ENG-W vs PAK-W, Cape Town, 2023

209/5 – IND-W vs NED-W, Headingley, 2026

195/3 – SA-W vs THA-W, Canberra, 2020

194/5 – IND-W vs NZ-W, Providence, 2018

The pair shared a 115-run stand off 70 balls after the Netherlands put the opposition in to bat.

The Netherlands were never in the run chase despite promising knocks from skipper Babette de Leede (28 off 27 balls) and Sterre Kalis (18 off 13 balls) before being bundled out for 114 in 17.3 overs.

From India’s point of view, the biggest scare came when off-spinner Shreyanka Patil was stretchered off the field after twisting her ankle while fielding off her very first ball of the evening.

India next face a much tougher opponent in South Africa in Manchester on June 21.

On her World Cup debut, pacer Nandani Sharma had a productive outing. She had opener Heather Siegers caught at cover for a memorable first wicket in her first ICC game.

Deepti Sharma, who starred with the ball against Pakistan, struck in her first over, having Phebe Molkenboer caught at mid-off.

Netherlands’ de Leede and Kalis played a few crisp strokes before departing in quick succession.

It was a procession thereafter as India completed the formalities. The wily Shree Charani was too good for the opposition’s middle and lower order and was also on a hat-trick in the 17th over. She was all over the Netherlands after trapping Robine Rijke in her third over.

Kalis played down the wrong line to be castled by Shafali Verma, while de Leede was stumped after missing a short ball from Nandani on the charge.

Earlier, it was a second successive fifty-plus score for Mandhana, while Shafali completed her maiden tournament half-century.

Shafali was more aggressive than Mandhana in the powerplay, during which India collected 59 runs.

The Netherlands bowlers were wayward, and Shafali made them pay. Her aerial drive over extra cover off pacer Isabel Woning stood out in the first six overs.

Netherlands captain de Leede was forced to make frequent bowling changes as a result of Shafali’s onslaught.

Myrthe van den Raad could not get her line right in the sixth over, conceding as many as six wides.

Mandhana got into her element post the powerplay, stepping out to spinners and pacers alike.

The star Indian opener collected four boundaries off as many balls in the 15th over bowled by Silver Siegers.

Source : https://sports.ndtv.com/women-s-t20-world-cup-2026/india-make-womens-t20-world-cup-history-become-second-team-in-elite-club-after-mega-total-vs-netherlands-11651517

Mexico City police on Wednesday (local time) arrested a man for allegedly trying to rent out his official FIFA World Cup accreditation on social media to provide unauthorised access to stadium areas.

Mexico City police on Wednesday (local time) arrested a man for allegedly trying to rent out his official FIFA World Cup accreditation on social media to provide unauthorised access to stadium areas, local authorities said, according to Reuters. According to the city’s Citizen Security Secretariat, the 24-year-old suspect was detained near the Azteca Stadium after he attempted to reactivate his credential, the report added. Authorities said a legal representative of World Cup organisers alerted police after noticing the online posts advertising the alleged offer. However, the fee the suspect was reportedly seeking was not disclosed.

Mexico City is set to host multiple matches during the expanded 48-team tournament, including group-stage fixtures involving the host nation, Mexico. Later on Wednesday, World Cup debutants Uzbekistan are scheduled to face Colombia in a Group K clash in the capital.

The accused, who has not been identified, has been handed over to the public prosecutor’s office, which will decide his legal status, the statement added, as per Reuters.

Meanwhile, Goals from Julian Quinones and Raul Jimenez helped Mexico start their FIFA World Cup campaign with a 2-0 win over South Africa in front of an enthusiastic crowd at their home venue of the iconic Estadio Azteca on June 12 (as per Indian Standard Time).

The match was highly intense, with three red cards shown. This is their 22nd successive win across all competitions against African teams, with their last loss dating back to the same opposition back in the 2005 Gold Cup. This was the 20th WC match at the iconic Azteca, more than any stadium in the tournament’s history, as per ESPN. Mexico continues their undefeated run at the venue.

The match started with nerves from both sides, with every South African player making their World Cup debut. South Africa looked confident, and Ronwen Williams, the goalkeeper, was making some risky passes. In the fifth minute, there was a chance for Mexico’s Raul Jimenez, but the goalie made a great save.In the ninth minute, Julian Quinones produced magic for Mexico with the first goal of the tournament. After a pass from Williams, Sithole lost possession to Erik Lira, and the ball went to Julian, who fired it past the goalie’s leg from the edge of the box, the earliest ever WC goal since Philipp Lahm’s goal for Germany at the 2006 tournament vs Costa Rica (six minutes), as per Sky Sports.

In the 20th minute, Quinones took another aim from 25 yards, but could not convert it into a goal. Brian Gutierrez got a chance in the 30th minute, but his shot was blocked, and Williams pulled out another save five minutes later. Lyle Foster got a chance to score for South Africa, but his header did not work.

Quinones and Jimenez made chances for Mexico, putting more pressure on South Africa, with the former’s shot hitting the goalpost.

Heading into half-time, SA was down 1-0 against a strong-looking home side, making the best out of their home advantage, with ball possession hitting over 57 per cent, 10 shots and 11 touches within the opposition box.

In the 50th minute, Sithole, who had earlier lost possession in the first half, was given a red card after he committed a foul on Gutierrez, just outside the box. While Mexico did not get a penalty kick, South Africa was now one man down.

Both sides made a couple of substitutions in the second half, with Gilberto Mora, the youngest player in this WC at the age of 17, coming in for Gutierrez. In the 67th minute, the 35-year-old Jimenez finally found the net for the hosts, a header that went into the net like a bullet.

A touch from Quinones, which found Alvarado, went to Jimenez, playing his fourth World Cup, and he wasted no time in firing it past Williams. Jimenez went down in the box, making contact with Sibisi.

Source : https://sports.ndtv.com/fifa-world-cup-2026/mexico-city-police-detain-man-for-attempting-to-sell-fifa-world-cup-accreditation-11652093

Harsh punishments have reportedly been recommended against both players, although the final call now rests with the Indian board.

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has been handed a tough decision on the fate of Vaibhav Sooryavanshi and Tilak Varma, who were at the centre of the fallout from India A’s ill-tempered match against Sri Lanka A in Dambulla last Monday. Harsh punishments have reportedly been recommended against both players, although the final call now rests with the Indian board.

According to a report in Sportstar, match referee Pradeep Jeyapragash, who officiated the controversial fixture, has recommended a fine amounting to 50 per cent of Sooryavanshi’s match fee for his involvement in a physical altercation with Sri Lanka A batter Vishen Halambage. India A captain Tilak has also been recommended for disciplinary action, with a proposed fine of 30 per cent of his match fee.

Sooryavanshi was seen shoving Halambage after an ugly exchange involving several Sri Lanka A players at the conclusion of the match, which the hosts won in the Super Over. Senior Sri Lanka international Niroshan Dickwella had to intervene and separate the two players before the situation escalated further. Media reports had earlier claimed that Halambage had been repeatedly sledging Sooryavanshi throughout the tour, including during the first meeting between the two sides on June 9.

Tilak, meanwhile, was involved in two lengthy and heated confrontations with the on-field umpires. The first came when match officials informed the Indian camp that a Super Over might not be possible because of fading light. The second followed a no-ball call on the final delivery of Sri Lanka A’s Super Over innings, a decision that sparked strong protests from the India A captain.

The report further stated that, unlike senior international cricket where disciplinary matters fall under the ICC’s jurisdiction, sanctions in A-team matches are decided by the respective cricket boards. The match referee can only submit recommendations, which the boards may choose to ratify and enforce. No formal hearing was conducted, with the proposed penalties based on reports submitted by the on-field umpires.

Source : https://www.hindustantimes.com/cricket/bcci-to-decide-fate-as-hefty-fine-recommended-against-vaibhav-sooryavanshi-tilak-varma-not-spared-101781698058831.html

Lionel Messi, at 39, has scored the first hat-trick of the FIFA World Cup 2026 with a stunning range of strikes in the Argentina vs Algeria clash on Wednesday. The 8-time Ballon d’Or winner took his tally of World Cup goals to 16, levelling him with Germany’s Miroslav Klose on the all-time record for most goals.

Lionel Messi, at 39, has scored the first hat-trick of the FIFA World Cup 2026 with a stunning range of strikes in the Argentina vs Algeria clash on Wednesday. The 8-time Ballon d’Or winner took his tally of World Cup goals to 16, levelling him with Germany’s Miroslav Klose on the all time record for most goals. Lionel Messi is the oldest player to ever score a hat-trick at the World Cup.

2 – At 38 years, 357 days old, Lionel Messi is the oldest player to score multiple goals in a FIFA World Cup match, surpassing Roger Milla (38y 34d) in 1990.

Eternal. pic.twitter.com/45K7TFiBu9

— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) June 17, 2026

At 39 years old, the Argentine captain rolled back the years with a stunning three-goal display, netting the first hat-trick of the tournament and once again underlining why he remains one of football’s greatest-ever players.

The eight-time Ballon d’Or winner showcased his full repertoire, finding the net with a variety of finishes that left Algeria’s defence helpless and the crowd on its feet. The Kansas City Stadium were on their feet when manager Lionel Scaloni substitued Messi out, in one of the great World Cup performances of all time.

16 – Lionel Messi logra su hat-trick ante Argelia e iguala a Miroslav Klose como el jugador con más goles en Copas del Mundo.

Inigualable. pic.twitter.com/bJ9PhDwlsG

— OptaJavier (@OptaJavier) June 17, 2026

The Argentine icon took his tally to 16 World Cup goals, drawing level with Germany legend Miroslav Klose atop the competition’s all-time scoring charts.

Source : https://www.freepressjournal.in/sports/lionel-messi-scores-first-fifa-world-cup-2026-hat-trick-equals-klose-for-all-time-record

 

 

Vaibhav Sooryavanshi’s on-field fight with a Sri Lanka A player after an intense Tri-Nation series match in Dambulla on Monday grabbed the headlines

Vaibhav Sooryavanshi’s on-field fight with a Sri Lanka A player after an intense Tri-Nation series match in Dambulla on Monday grabbed the headlines. The incident happened after India A lost the match in the Super Over, leading to their second straight defeat in the Tri-Nation series, which also features Afghanistan. Chasing 17 in the Super Over, India A could only manage nine runs, with Sooryavanshi facing the final three balls of the over. While he was returning from the middle with his batting partner Suryansh Shedge, Sooryavanshi turned back towards the group of Sri Lankan players who were involved in vociferous celebrations, which led to the altercation.

Sooryavanshi even pushed one of the players and had to be separated from the person by other Sri Lanka cricketers on the field. With physical altercations a strict no-no in the ICC manual, there has been speculation that the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) might reprimand Sooryavanshi for his heated exchange with Sri Lankan players. BCCI secretary Devajit Saikia, in an interview with Sportstar, denied any such step.

“We will let our players concentrate on the tournament and they should not be distracted by any collateral issues,” Saikia said.

The young batter, meanwhile, was expected to carry his form from the IPL into the tri-series, but Sooryavanshi has not been able to convert his flying starts, recording scores of 14, 44 and 21 so far.

What does the ICC rulebook say

Article 2.12 of the ICC Code of Conduct relates to: “inappropriate physical contact with a Player, Player Support Personnel, Umpire, Match Referee or any other person (including a spectator) during an International Match.”

According to the rule: “Any form of inappropriate physical contact is prohibited in cricket. Without limitation, players will breach this regulation if they deliberately, recklessly and/or negligently walk or run into or shoulder another player or umpire.”

Source : https://sports.ndtv.com/cricket/bccis-first-reaction-on-vaibhav-sooryavanshis-heated-altercation-with-sri-lanka-a-player-after-super-over-loss-11644720?pfrom=home-ndtv_lateststories

India A vs Sri Lanka A Highlights, Tri-Nation A Series 2026 4th Match: India A suffered defeat in a super over in a dramatic encounter against Sri Lanka A in the Tri-Nation A series, in Dambulla on Monday. Put into bat, India A were bowled out for 265 in 49.2 overs. Suryansh Shedge top-scored with 72 and Vipraj Nigam contributed 51. However, India conceded 10 penalty runs as Vipraj walked into the pitch twice. In response, scores were tied as Sri Lanka A managed 265/9 in 50 overs. Sadeera Samarawickrama made 93. A super over took place after initial confusion. SL A made 16 runs in the super over, aided by no-ball drama that left India A skipper Tilak Varma fuming. Vaibhav Sooryavanshi and Shedge failed to chase down the 17-run target in the super over. The match ended on an ugly note, with Sooryavanshi involved in a post-match clash with a SL A player.

IND A vs SL A Updates: Mind games

Ravichandran Ashwin has a point. Sri Lanka A played their mind games after the match was tied. And it affected the Indian players. Tilak Varma looked agitated while he talked with the umpires, regarding Super Over. That light was fading, making it a touch-and-go affair. Indians could not control the nerves.

IND A vs SL A Updates: Ashwin Reacts

These games won’t have as many cameras as we are used to seeing in the IPL. The No Ball call in the super over was debatable and the way Sri Lanka delayed coming into bat in the super over really irked the India A side.

The frustration shown by the Indian team was… pic.twitter.com/AQcsksJMuC

— Ashwin 🇮🇳 (@ashwinravi99) June 15, 2026

IND A vs SL A Updates: Why Did Sooryavanshi Get Angry?

A clear video evidence shows that Vaibhav Sooryavanshi and Suryansh Shedge did not start the fight. They were instigated as the Sri Lankan players were involved in an over-the-top celebrations. The Indian duo retaliated and Sooryavanshi went a bit too far.

IND A vs SL A Updates: What happened with Vaibhav Sooryavanshi?

Emam Ashour opened the scoring early in the first half in Seattle, before Romelu Lukaku came off the bench after the hour to force Egypt’s Mohamed Hany into an own goal.

Belgium and Egypt drew 1-1 in their World Cup opener on Monday after a second-half Belgian equalizer spoiled Mohamed Salah’s 34th birthday. Emam Ashour opened the scoring early in the first half in Seattle, before Romelu Lukaku came off the bench after the hour to force Egypt’s Mohamed Hany into an own goal. With the draw, seven-time Africa Cup of Nations champions Egypt’s wait for a first victory at a World Cup goes on. This is their fourth participation in the global showpiece and with Group G fixtures to come against Iran and New Zealand, they will hope to break that hoodoo in North America.

For Belgium, this tournament is likely the last chance for the remnants of their golden generation to better their third-placed finish in Russia eight years ago and finally win silverware.

Veterans Kevin De Bruyne, Thibaut Courtois and Lukaku are the main protagonists of that group still involved in Rudi Garcia’s squad.

With all eyes in the Pacific Northwest on Salah and De Bruyne, it was the ex-Manchester City playmaker that created the first moment of note in the match when he dragged a sharp effort narrowly wide in the seventh minute.

However, it was Ashour who upstaged the pair just before the hydration break when he received the ball in a similar position to De Bruyne but his sweetly-struck effort left Courtois no chance as it whistled into the bottom-right corner.

It was just the second time in their history that Egypt had taken the lead in a World Cup match — after Salah opened the scoring in a 2-1 defeat to Saudi Arabia in 2018.

De Bruyne came within inches of levelling early in the second period when he whipped a close-range free-kick over the Egyptian wall, only to see it rocket off the outside of the post.

Salah responded at the other end as he ghosted into the box but had his downward header punched away by Courtois with Ashour getting his follow-up effort all wrong.

The match became stretched as both sides came close on a couple of occasions, including a screaming left-footed volley by Belgian captain Youri Tielemans.

Source : https://sports.ndtv.com/fifa-world-cup-2026/belgium-spoil-mohamed-salahs-birthday-with-1-1-draw-against-egypt-11641400

Justin Gaethje Stuns Ilia Topuria To Capture UFC Lightweight Title At Historic White House Event

Justin Gaethje delivered one of the biggest upsets in UFC history by defeating previously unbeaten Ilia Topuria to become the undisputed UFC lightweight champion at the historic UFC Freedom 250 event held on the South Lawn of the White House. The event marked the first professional sporting spectacle hosted at the iconic venue and was part of celebrations surrounding America’s 250th anniversary.

Heading into the fight, Topuria entered as the favorite and looked in control during the opening rounds. The reigning champion showcased his trademark precision and aggression, edging ahead through the first two rounds. However, Gaethje gradually turned the tide with his trademark toughness, relentless pressure, and powerful striking.

The turning point came in the third round when Gaethje landed a crushing right hand and followed it up with a series of sharp jabs that left Topuria visibly damaged. As the fight progressed, the American continued to pile on pressure, causing swelling and cuts on the champion’s face. Despite undergoing a medical assessment and being cleared to continue, Topuria struggled to recover from the sustained punishment.

Topuria showed tremendous heart and refused to back down, battling through adversity and continuing to exchange with Gaethje. However, by the end of the fourth round, the damage had become too severe. Concerned for their fighter’s safety, Topuria’s corner made the decision to stop the contest before the fifth round could begin, handing Gaethje a dramatic victory.

The victory finally earned Gaethje the undisputed lightweight crown after years of competing among the UFC elite. Speaking after the fight, the American credited his durability, perseverance, and ability to endure difficult moments for helping him secure the biggest win of his career.

Source : https://www.spotboye.com/trending/trending-news/justin-gaethje-stuns-ilia-topuria-to-capture-ufc-lightweight-title-at-historic-white-house-event/6a2fbecf7eb3077d4511f3a3

Graeme Swann said Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli face growing scrutiny as Vaibhav Sooryavanshi’s rise fuels India’s succession debate.

It is not something Rohit Sharma is new to. He and Virat Kohli have been at the centre of the succession debate for months now, a conversation that intensified more than a year ago when the two shockingly announced their retirement from Test cricket, leaving them active only in the ODI format. They went against those within the BCCI who questioned their future, reaffirming their commitment to remain part of India’s plans for one final push at the 2027 ODI World Cup. But given their age and the limited amount of competitive cricket they play outside international fixtures, every innings, every score and every shot is bound to come under scrutiny.

Former England spinner Graeme Swann believes that is simply the burden of greatness — no matter how well a player performs, the search for a successor never stops.

With India set to travel to England in July for a three-match ODI series following the Afghanistan assignment, Swann observed that scrutiny surrounding Rohit and Kohli is only natural as a younger generation begins to emerge. He cautioned that any dip in form would inevitably reignite succession debates, particularly with teenage sensation Vaibhav Sooryavanshi fresh off a stunning IPL 2026 campaign in which he amassed 776 runs and won five individual awards.

“Absolutely. I think it’s inevitable with any player when you come to the latter stage of your career, the second half of your career, if you like, that people naturally start looking for your successor, no matter how well you do,” Swann told PTI Videos.

“And even if you’re at the top of your game, they’re still looking like, who will be the next Virat? Who will be the next Rohit when they go? That’s very natural.

“And the second you have one or two low scores, everyone starts looking over your shoulder and seeing who’s next in line. And obviously, with Sooryavanshi coming through and some of the youngsters, it puts even more onus on the guys, especially at the top of the order for India.”

While Swann did not single out any player, Sooryavanshi’s rise has naturally intensified conversations around India’s future at the top of the order. The 15-year-old has long been viewed as a generational talent, but it was his record-breaking IPL season that ultimately forced the selectors’ hand. Later this month, during the Ireland tour, he could become India’s youngest-ever international debutant.

Swann believes the coming weeks could prove significant for Rohit as India continue balancing established stars with emerging talent.

“So I think it’s a huge six weeks for Rohit. But like I said, in the IPL, he looks in great touch and he’s still one of the best players going, let’s face it.

“So if I was an English bowler, I wouldn’t really want to bowl against a Rohit Sharma who’s desperate to prove a point and keep his place.”

Swann also stopped short of describing the England series as a make-or-break assignment for India’s senior batters ahead of next year’s ODI World Cup.

Source : https://www.hindustantimes.com/cricket/rohit-sharma-faces-biggest-succession-challenge-gets-warned-of-vaibhav-sooryavanshi-one-or-two-low-scores-and-101781460259920.html

Cristiano Ronaldo’s powerful quote, “I’m living a dream I never want to wake up from,” continues to inspire fans as the football icon’s journey from Madeira to global superstardom reflects years of hard work, sacrifice and belief.

Cristiano Ronaldo has spent more than two decades proving that belief can change a person’s life. Long before the trophies, records and global fame arrived, he was just a young boy from Madeira chasing a future many thought was impossible. That is why one simple line from the Portuguese superstar still connects deeply with fans across generations. “I’m living a dream I never want to wake up from.” The quote continues to spread across social media, locker rooms and motivational pages because it captures more than football success.

Cristiano Ronaldo quote reflects years of hard work and sacrifice

Ronaldo’s words carry weight because his story was never built on comfort. He grew up in a modest household in Funchal, Madeira, where financial struggles were part of daily life. His father worked as an equipment manager, while his mother did everything possible to support the family.

Even as a child, Ronaldo’s discipline stood out. His coaches would see him sticking around after training to work on his speed, movement and finishing. He also had heart surgery at the age of just 15, a scary moment that could have ended his football career before it had really begun.

But he came back stronger.

That led to him leaving Sporting Lisbon for Manchester United, where he established himself as one of the brightest young talents in football. He continued to ascend at Real Madrid where he set scoring records and won Ballon d’Or awards nearly every season. Later chapters with Juventus, a return to Manchester United and his move to Al Nassr only added to his legacy.

The quote feels powerful because Ronaldo earned every part of that “dream” through relentless effort.

Source : https://sports.ndtv.com/us/fifa/quote-of-the-day-by-football-goat-cristiano-ronaldo-i-m-living-a-dream-i-never-want-to-wake-up-from-11630236

USA vs Paraguay, FIFA World Cup 2026 Match Highlights: An own goal, two fine strikes from Folarin Balogun, and a late goal from Giovanni Reyna helped the USA seal a historic 4-1 victory over Paraguay.

USA vs Paraguay Highlights, FIFA World Cup 2026 Group D: An own goal, two fine strikes from Folarin Balogun, and a late goal from Giovanni Reyna helped the USA seal a historic 4-1 victory over Paraguay in their FIFA World Cup 2026 Group D match. A mistake from Paraguay’s Damian Bobadilla, who scored an own goal in the seventh minute, handed the USA an early 1-0 lead. Balogun had a goal disallowed for offside in the 28th minute but bounced back soon after, scoring in the 31st minute to make it 2-0. He struck again in first-half stoppage time to extend the lead to 3-0. In the second half, substitute Mauricio pulled one back for Paraguay in the 73rd minute, offering a glimmer of hope. However, the USA remained solid in defence and did not concede again. Deep into stoppage time, Giovanni Reyna added a fourth goal to cap off an emphatic win. This also marked the USA’s highest goal tally in a single match.

 

Source : https://sports.ndtv.com/fifa-world-cup-2026/usa-vs-paraguay-live-score-fifa-world-cup-2026-usa-vs-par-match-live-updates-11629639

 

Mexico began their World Cup 2026 campaign with a 2-0 win over South Africa, courtesy of goals from Julián Quiñones and Raúl Jiménez. The match descended into chaos as Yaya Sithole, Themba Zwane and César Montes were all sent off in a dramatic opener at the Estadio Azteca.

Hosts Mexico began their FIFA World Cup 2026 campaign with a comfortable 2-0 victory over South Africa at the Estadio Azteca, though the opening match of the tournament was overshadowed by three red cards and a series of controversial incidents.

Julián Quiñones gave the home side the perfect start, scoring after just nine minutes by slotting the ball through the goalkeeper’s legs. Mexico dominated possession and chances throughout the contest, while South Africa struggled to pose a significant attacking threat.

Co-hosts off to a winning start! 🇲🇽#FIFAWorldCup

— FIFA World Cup (@FIFAWorldCup) June 11, 2026

Quinones, Jimenez fire Mexico to 3 points

Mexico’s early pressure paid off when Quiñones etched his name into World Cup history with the first goal of the tournament. The hosts remained firmly in control and continued to create opportunities against a South African side that found it difficult to gain a foothold in the match.

Their dominance was rewarded again in the second half when Raúl Jiménez headed home at the back post to double Mexico’s lead and put the result beyond doubt.

Red card drama

The first major turning point arrived just four minutes after the restart when South Africa were reduced to 10 men. Yaya Sithole was shown a straight red card by referee Wilton Sampaio for denying a clear goalscoring opportunity after fouling Gutierrez from behind as the Mexican attacker raced through on goal.

With the extra man advantage, Mexico tightened their grip on proceedings and continued to push South Africa deeper into their own half.

Source : https://www.freepressjournal.in/sports/fifa-world-cup-2026-mexico-beat-south-africa-2-0-amid-red-card-chaos-in-opener

 

Ben Stokes, sacked as England Test captain after the London nightclub controversy, could announce his international retirement in the coming days.

Sacked as the captain of the England team ahead of the second Test against New Zealand, Ben Stokes has arguably hit the lowest point of his career. One of the finest all-rounders of his generation, Stokes let his teammates, the England board, and fans down when he decided to breach the midnight curfew to go to a nightclub in London after the first Test. The altercation involving a rugby player, Stokes, and his teammate Gus Atkinson forced the England board to take strict action.

While Stokes is only out of the second Test against New Zealand at present, chatter around him potentially calling it a day in international cricket is gaining steam. However, former England captain Nasser Hussain has warned Stokes against making such a call at a time when he is bound to be at his lowest emotionally.

“Ben Stokes has been there for England a lot,” Hussain told the Sky Sports Cricket podcast. “He’s been there as a captain, he’s been there as a player at their finest moments – 50-over World Cups, T20 World Cups.

“He’s been a warrior for England and he got it wrong this time – he got it horribly wrong. I don’t think that is a sackable offence. Ben will be in a dark place at the moment. I just hope Ben doesn’t think ‘I’ve let so many people down that I’m going to retire. I’m going to make an emotional decision and retire’, because I think that would be a really sad way to end for one of England’s greats,” he added.

Source : https://sports.ndtv.com/cricket/sacked-ben-stokes-warned-against-making-emotional-retirement-call-11620405?pfrom=home-ndtv_lateststories

Serena Williams won her comeback match at the 2026 Queens Club Championship. She is playing the women’s doubles with Canada’s Victoria Mboko. This was the 39-time Grand Slam winner’s first competitive outing since the 2022 US Open.

Serena Williams marked her comeback to tennis after four years with a victory as she won her first-round women’s doubles fixture in the 2026 Queen’s Club Championship alongside Victoria Mboko. The American-Canadian pair won their match against third seeds Erin Routliffe (New Zealand) and Nicole Melichar-Martinez (United States of America) in straight sets.

Serena and Mboko outclassed their opponents in their first outing together. The pair have an age difference of 25 years but look comfortable playing with each other as they won the clash at the Andy Murray Arena at the Queen’s Club in West London by 7-6 (7-2), 6-2. The fixture lasted just one hour and 30 minutes.

Both pairs broke each other once in the first set before the unseeded pair took the set in the tiebreaker. They made the most of the momentum by winning the second set comfortably by breaking the third seed twice while holding onto all their serves while not even facing a single break point.

They will now face the winner of the game between Leylah Fernandez/Alexandra Panova and Laura Siegemund/Demi Schuurs in the second round.

With cricket’s inclusion, India will see it as an amazing opportunity to go for an Olympic gold.

After featuring for the last time in 1900, cricket is all set to return at the Olympics. The sport will make its long-awaited comeback at the 2028 Los Angeles Games. The tournament will feature six teams each across men’s and women’s categories. It is worth noting that cricket is one of the five sports approved by the IOC for the next edition of the quadrennial event. Baseball/softball, flag football, lacrosse (sixes) and squash are the other four games included for LA 2028.

With cricket’s inclusion, India will see it as an amazing opportunity to go for an Olympic gold. The country, which has won two ODI World Cup titles and three T20 World Cups, will be one of the favourites going into the sporting event in Los Angeles.

Ahead of the tournament, S Sreesanth, a member of India’s 2007 and 2011 World Cup-winning teams, has advised the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) to include Virat Kohli in the side. He added that Kohli, along with Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, will be a good blend of experience and youth.

“The work he has performed is unbelievable. You are talking about Olympic gold, I request that Virat plays in the team. It will be a mix of senior and junior. Sooryavanshi with Virat. That will be amazing,” Sreesanth said in a video on the YouTube channel, Sports With Ravishh.

Kohli called time on his T20I career after India’s 2024 World Cup triumph. He hung up his boots right after the country’s victory in the final against South Africa.

“The selectors should keep Virat Kohli in T20s because look at his fitness. This might be controversial, but I would request the selectors, ‘Please put Virat in the Olympics’,” he added.

Source : https://sports.ndtv.com/cricket/vaibhav-sooryavanshi-with-virat-kohli-world-cup-winner-advises-bcci-selectors-for-olympics-2028-11611083?pfrom=home-ndtv_lateststories

Union Sports Minister Mansukh Mandaviya facilitated a crucial dialogue between the AIFF and ISL clubs to resolve a commercial dispute. The discussion resulted in the formation of a joint task force.

Union Sports Minister Mansukh Mandaviya stepped in to mediate the ongoing commercial dispute between the All India Football Federation (AIFF) and Indian Super League (ISL) clubs. During a cordial, hours-long meeting in New Delhi on Monday, June 9, that also included former AIFF president Praful Patel, Mandaviya directed both the federation and the clubs to form a joint task force to draft a structured plan and an amicable business model so that the league can sustain over the coming seasons. The clubs’ suggestion of a model led by them was approved over AIFF’s deal with Genius Sports.

The intervention comes at a critical juncture for Indian football. The ISL has been undergoing a major financial crisis ever since the exit of the Reliance Group-backed FSDL as commercial partner in December 2025. There was danger that the ISL could not have been held at all in the 2025-26 season. The Sports Minister then got involved, and the season did happen but in a truncated single-leg format, that saw East Bengal lift their maiden title.

India’s T20I series against England begins on July 1. Before that, Vaibhav Sooryavanshi will play an India A one-day series and a T20I contest against Ireland

Vaibhav Sooryavanshi has created a sensation unlike any other cricketer in the age of social media. And he is yet to play international cricket.

An IPL season that was billed as his toughest test, given the hype he had already generated last year with his historic 35-ball century for Rajasthan Royals, instead became the launchpad for his India career. Sooryavanshi was never in contention for an India call-up. He is only 15. The teenager spent most of last year playing U-19 cricket after his IPL breakthrough. While he did feature in a handful of domestic matches — including a 36-ball List A century against Arunachal Pradesh and a 67-ball 93 in the Ranji Trophy as Bihar’s vice-captain — age-group cricket remained his primary focus.

Yet a staggering IPL 2026 campaign, in which he scored 776 runs at a strike rate of 237.3, smashed a record 72 sixes and swept five individual awards, effectively “forced” the selectors’ hand. Last Saturday, when BCCI secretary Devajit Saikia announced India’s squads for the tours of Ireland and England, along with the Asian Games, Sooryavanshi’s name featured in all three.

The England tour, in particular, will provide a stern examination of the wonderkid given the vastly different conditions from those he encountered during the IPL. But even before he has boarded the flight, Sooryavanshi has already triggered a media frenzy in England ahead of India’s five-match T20I series.

During a recent Sky Sports discussion on the sidelines of the first England-New Zealand Test at Lord’s, former England captain Mike Atherton held up a Daily Mail article on Sooryavanshi. Its headline read: “India’s teen sensation Sooryavanshi is this summer’s MUST-WATCH SHOW.”

Atherton said: “Vaibhav Sooryavanshi — this year’s must-watch. He has been picked in the India T20I squad, which will come after this series (against New Zealand). And there is a media frenzy around this kid already, isn’t there?”

Journalist Elizabeth Ammon of The Times, who was part of the panel, agreed, saying the ECB would be delighted with Sooryavanshi’s selection because of the likely impact on ticket sales. She also admitted that what left her awestruck was the manner in which the Rajasthan Royals batter treated even the world’s best bowlers — launching them for six from the very first ball.

“That absolutely is. And I’d imagine the ECB are happy… that’ll shift a few more tickets! It has been extraordinary watching him in the IPL. And it is the consistency. I have been listening to a few players as well, like Liam Livingstone, who said that he is good even in the nets from ball one; he takes on the best bowlers in the world. Pat Cummins said he just doesn’t know where to bowl to,” she said.

Atherton then pointed to the statistic from the article highlighting Sooryavanshi’s 72 sixes and asked former England batter Mark Butcher about the secret behind the six-hitting spree. Butcher admitted he was almost at a loss to explain it.

Source : https://www.hindustantimes.com/cricket/vaibhav-sooryavanshi-sparks-england-media-frenzy-weeks-before-india-arrive-ecb-are-happy-thatll-shift-tickets-101780940619111.html

Ben Stokes, after England went 1-0 up in a three-match series, said: “I’m not going to lie, I’m very happy that we’ve won this week. I won’t be really happy until I get to share a beer with the boys.”

Ben Stokes’ position as England cricket captain is in jeopardy after the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) officials announced that he was being investigated for a nightclub incident, along with teammate Gus Atkinson, reportedly involving a Saracens rugby player. Both Stokes and Atkinson are facing a probe by the board for breaking team rules in the early hours of Monday morning following England’s win in the first Test against New Zealand at Lord’s. It is the latest controversy concerning the England team following a tour of Australia where the side faced allegations of a drinking culture during a 4-1 Ashes series loss concluded in January.

It has been reported that neither Stokes nor Atkinson was hurt in the incident, which also involved players from Saracens rugby club as part of their end-of-season celebrations. However, there was a clear ‘breach of protocols’ as far as the ECB is concerned. In fact, the breach is serious enough for the board to consider removing Stokes as the captain, according to a report in ESPNCricinfo.

If Stokes is stripped of the captaincy, vice-captain Harry Brook — already the skipper of England’s white-ball teams — could be given the charge to lead the side in next week’s second Test across London at the Oval.

This would represent a remarkable reversal for Brook, who was fined and censured for late-night drinking and clashing with a nightclub bouncer before captaining England in a one-day international in Wellington in October.

“The ECB is currently investigating a breach of team protocols following the conclusion of the first Men’s Test against New Zealand,” the governing body said in a statement issued Monday. “Ben Stokes and Gus Atkinson were present at a nightclub in the early hours of Monday morning when an incident took place. We are currently seeking further information, and an announcement regarding the squad for the second Test will be made in due course.”

The ‘Incident’ With Rugby Player

Britain’s Daily Telegraph reported players from Saracens, who compete in English rugby union’s top-flight Prem, were also present for the London club’s end-of-season party. Saracens subsequently issued a statement confirming an academy player had been involved in an incident in the early hours of Monday.

“We are aware of an incident involving an academy player connected to Saracens,” it said. “The club is currently establishing the full facts and is in contact with the relevant authorities and individuals involved. Once this process is complete, the matter will be reviewed and addressed appropriately. We will make no further comment at this time.”

Stokes led England as they thrashed New Zealand by 115 runs on Sunday with more than a day to spare in their first Test match since their Ashes humiliation, Surrey paceman Atkinson helping finish things off with a second-innings haul of 5-30.

Brook’s clash in Wellington led England to impose a midnight curfew on all players and staff, which is understood to still be in place.

“Beer with the boys”

During the Australia tour, the England squad’s conduct during a mid-series break in the coastal town of Noosa came under particular scrutiny, with a video of opening batsman Ben Duckett in an apparent state of intoxication posted on social media. England director of cricket Rob Key, who investigated the squad’s behaviour in Noosa, denied the team had a drinking culture — as did head coach Brendon McCullum.

Following the conclusion of the Ashes, details of the incident involving Brook in October were revealed.

Brook claimed to have been alone at the nightclub in Wellington, only for it to emerge he was alongside teammates Jacob Bethell and Josh Tongue.

Source : https://sports.ndtv.com/cricket/ben-stokes-facing-potential-sack-as-england-captain-after-nightclub-incident-11609784?pfrom=home-ndtv_topstories

The build-up to the T20 World Cup 2026 witnessed a drama involving the refusal of Bangladesh to travel to India

The build-up to the T20 World Cup 2026 witnessed a drama involving the refusal of Bangladesh to travel to India. The Bangladesh Cricket Board’s (BCB) main accusation was a lack of safety in India. Despite repeated assurances from the ICC and the BCCI, Bangladesh did not relent. They ultimately did not play. Scotland replaced Bangladesh in the tournament. Litton Das, Bangladesh T20 captain, said that as players they wanted to play the tournament, but the BCB leadership took the decision for them. Das hinted that they played in ‘dangerous’ conditions in Pakistan; hence, playing in India would not have been a problem.

“We went there to participate (in a meeting with top BCB officials), to have tea. Our mindset was to have tea in an AC room. We were asked what we wanted. As players, what would we want? We don’t want to fight. We would obviously want to play. They told us there was no safety in that country (India). We told them, we have played in Pakistan too. They used to stand outside the room with guns. What can be more dangerous than that? If we can play in Pakistan, why not India,” Litton Das told Prothom Alo.

Earlier, in January, when the whole row erupted, Das had remained non-committal over revealing his opinion on the issue.

“Are you sure we are going to play the World Cup? From my side, I am uncertain; everyone is uncertain. I think the whole of Bangladesh is uncertain at this moment. No answer. I understand what question you are going to ask. That is not safe for me. No answer,” said Litton.

Source : https://sports.ndtv.com/t20-world-cup-2026/in-pakistan-they-stood-outside-room-with-guns-bangladesh-cricket-captain-littons-dangerous-accusation-11608736?pfrom=home-ndtv_topscroll

Shreyas Iyer has made it clear that he doesn’t want to be in “someone else’s shadow” as he takes over Team India’s captaincy in the T20 format.

Shreyas Iyer was duly rewarded for his leadership and consistent performances in the T20I format by the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), with the selection committee naming him the captain of the national side in the shortest format. Although it is just the beginning for Shreyas in this leadership role, he has some clear ideas and fundamentals about how he wishes to lead the team going forward. Speaking at an event in Mumbai, the middle-order batter admitted that he is relishing the captaincy “challenge” but also made it clear that he does not want to be under anyone else’s shadow.

Shreyas last played a T20I for India in December 2023. He was not picked for the T20 World Cup 2025 or even the Asia Cup, which was held in the 20-over format this time around. It was Suryakumar Yadav who led the national team in both tournaments. As the selectors looked away from Shreyas, the veteran batter continued to deliver top performances in the IPL.

He led the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) to the IPL title in 2024 before captaining the Punjab Kings, whom he guided to the final in the 2025 season. As Suryakumar’s performances hit an all-time low, the Ajit Agarkar-led selection committee picked Shreyas to replace him for the upcoming tours of Ireland and England, while also elevating him to the team’s captaincy.

“I’ve got this job right now of or responsibility as a captain, it’s a great challenge. At the same time, I don’t have to change my personality. I have to be the same person how I was before and not try to be someone else or be under someone’s shadow,” Shreyas said during the launch of Kabuni, an AI-driven sports-tech tool, on Sunday.

Source : https://sports.ndtv.com/cricket/dont-want-to-be-under-someones-shadow-shreyas-iyers-mic-drop-statement-on-captaincy-11605066

Suryakumar Yadav lost both his place in the XI and the captaincy to Shreyas Iyer for the three assignments.

Former chief selector MSK Prasad has refused to believe that Suryakumar Yadav, who led India to its third T20 World Cup title just three months ago, has been axed from the T20I set-up. The 35-year-old was not named in any of the squads for India’s three upcoming T20I assignments — the tours of Ireland and England, followed by the Asian Games.

Suryakumar lost both his place in the XI and the captaincy to Shreyas Iyer for the three assignments. But Prasad refused to buy into the narrative that Saturday’s squad announcement marked the end of the road for the India batter. Speaking to PTI, he said Suryakumar had merely been rested, much like Jasprit Bumrah and Hardik Pandya.

“You don’t drop your World Cup-winning captain like that and that too in the next international match itself. Jasprit Bumrah is rested and so is Hardik Pandya. I am sure, Surya has also been rested,” he said.

“He is too good and too big a player to be dropped,” he added.

Suryakumar Yadav has been sacked as India’s T20I captain and dropped from the squad altogether, despite leading the nation to a T20 World Cup title in his last match.

The Suryakumar Yadav-era of Indian T20 cricket is over, as it stands. The man who made his India debut at the age of 30, took a match-winning catch in a T20 World Cup final and led India to victory in another T20 World Cup final, has been unceremoniously shown the door at the age of 35. While few can doubt Shreyas Iyer’s captaincy credentials, and more importantly his excellent form, the total erasure of Suryakumar Yadav from the T20I setup appears quite harsh.

Unbeaten As Captain

Suryakumar Yadav has done very little wrong when it comes to his captaincy of India in T20I cricket. He was the surprise captain-elect after Rohit Sharma’s retirement, as Gautam Gambhir chose his old KKR vice-captain over the injury-prone Hardik Pandya. And SKY took the role like a duck to water.

His stats speak for themselves – 42 wins in 52 matches, with a win percentage of 80.7, which is the highest of any captain in India’s T20I history (minimum 10 matches led). Suryakumar did not lose a single T20I series as skipper, and ultimately delivered the T20 World Cup 2026 title under the immense pressure of a home World Cup.

Shreyas Iyer’s case is excellent. He led his IPL franchise to two finals in successive years, and has grown into a dangerous middle-order batter in T20s. But Suryakumar’s CV shows a T20 World Cup title as India captain. Is there a better case to be made than that?

Suryakumar The Batter Deserved More Time

It is hard to deny that Suryakumar Yadav has looked a shadow of the batter he was in the last few months. Suryakumar’s form problems have been well-documented right from the Asia Cup 2025, but it was really a sub-par IPL 2026 that sealed the deal.

Even then, Suryakumar played a match-winning 84* off 49 in India’s first T20 World Cup 2026 game against USA, in a game where every other batter had seemingly forgotten how to bat. He had singlehandedly ensured that India’s World Cup campaign did not get off to the worst-possible start.

Suryakumar also hit a fifty in his final match of IPL 2026, showing that class is permanent.

At his best, Suryakumar Yadav redefined India’s T20I batting, becoming the first Indian batter to truly bat in the dynamic and unorthodox fashion that is prevalent in the modern game. But even at his worst, Suryakumar showed he could still be a game-changer with the bat.

Given this legacy, Suryakumar perhaps deserved a longer rope as a batter alone.

Great Relationship With Gambhir

“A phenomenal leader of men” – that’s the phrase Gautam Gambhir used to describe Suryakumar Yadav ahead of the T20 World Cup 2026. And it adds to the confusion of Suryakumar’s total omission.

Gambhir’s frosty relationship with the likes of Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma in Tests and ODIs have been reported multiple times during his tenure as head coach. But those issues have largely stayed away in T20Is, where Gambhir and Suryakumar have worked in tandem to instill an aggressive brand of cricket within the Indian team.

“The way he relates to the players, the way he talks to players, the way he spends time with players, how much he is relaxed on the field. Sometimes as coach, you can think about a lot of other things because you know he is going to keep the atmosphere pretty much calm that any coach can dream of,” Gambhir had said, praising Suryakumar’s leadership.

Now these shoes will have to be filled all over again.

Source : https://sports.ndtv.com/cricket/sun-sets-for-suryakumar-yadav-why-bccis-captaincy-sacking-is-unjust-11600906

Do the IPL team owners have influence in team selection? This is one subject which has often been discussed with no concrete proof.

Do the IPL team owners have influence in team selection? This is one subject that has been often discussed with no concrete proof. The IPL owners, who pump in hundreds of crores each year, are known to be a passionate lot. Many are seen in the stadium supporting their teams. But do they cross the line and ‘have a say’ in team selection too? Sunrisers Hyderabad star Liam Livingstone thinks so. He gave his own example in IPL 2026. The England spin-allrounder played only two matches, scoring 1 and 14. Livingstone said that a player was preferred because the owners loved him. He added that SRH played three overseas players in the XI but did not try him on a consistent basis.

“I think there are like three ways of the IPL. You are locked in and everything kind of set out for you. There’s like a fringe: you may or may not play. And your thoughts are, ‘If I play, this is how it’s going to go.’ And like me, this year, when I went there we got a lad (Salil Arora) in the auction that Mumbai Indians really wanted. We had more money, so we ended up getting him. The owners loved him. So he was locked in to play for us. When we didn’t have Cummins, we were playing only three overseas (players). So I asked Dan (Vettori), why we are playing only three overseas?” Livingstone said in a podcast.

“He was like, ‘the owners love this lad. When Cummins comes back in we are not going to change our thing’. Which is great. I knew that I was not going to play unless somebody got injured. So then it’s a completely different mindset when you know, you are not going to play.’

“What expertise do these owners have?” asked cricket expert David Lloyd.

“A lot of money,” replied Alastair Cook, also part of the podcast.

Source : https://sports.ndtv.com/ipl-2026/srh-star-liam-livingstone-reveals-ipl-team-owners-selection-influence-i-asked-daniel-vettori-11592750

Shreyas Iyer is set to be named Indian cricket team’s new T20I captain, sources told NDTV. He will replace Suryakumar Yadav

From being out of India’s T20I team to be named the new captain, Shreyas Iyer’s world is officially set to undergo a big change on Saturday, sources have told NDTV. He will replace Suryakumar Yadav as the skipper of India’s senior men’s team in T20Is. The decision was taken in a BCCI Apex Council meeting on Thursday. Sources added Iyer will attend the BCCI selection meeting on Saturday, where squads for the Ireland and England tours, along with the Asian Games, will be picked.

Shreyas Iyer, who last played an international T20I match against Australia in Bengaluru in December 2023, will make his comeback to the national team on the back of a strong run for Punjab Kings in the recently concluded IPL 2026, where he made 498 runs.

Team India’s next T20I assignment will come on their tour to Ireland, where they will feature in two T20Is before heading to England for five T20Is and three ODIs. The first T20I against Ireland will be played on June 26, and the second is scheduled for June 28.

Earlier, a report by news agency ANI, quoting sources, claimed BCCI chief selector Ajit Agarkar, head coach Gautam Gambhir, and the selection committee have reached a consensus on appointing Tilak Varma as vice-captain.

Suryakumar led the Indian team to the ICC T20 World Cup 2026 title. India retained their title successfully and became the first team to defend the T20 World Cup trophy. However, Suryakumar had an average campaign with the bat, as he scored 242 runs in nine matches. In the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026 season as well, he managed just 270 runs for the Mumbai Indians (MI), which had a major part in MI’s ninth-place finish in the points table.

Source : https://sports.ndtv.com/cricket/shreyas-iyer-set-to-become-indian-t20-captain-will-attend-bcci-selection-meeting-11593047

The ex-RCB star said that Virat Konli prefers a quieter life away from the constant public attention.

England all-rounder Liam Livingstone recently opened up about his experience of sharing a dressing room with Virat Kohli during his stint with Royal Challengers Bengaluru in IPL 2025. Livingstone was part of the RCB squad that ended the franchise’s long wait for an IPL title, helping the team lift the trophy for the first time. A year later, he moved to Sunrisers Hyderabad, while RCB successfully defended their crown to become back-to-back champions.

Kohli has long been known for his aggressive approach on the field, thriving in pressure situations and bringing unmatched energy to every contest. His passion and competitiveness have been central to his success over the years. In recent years, the batting great has placed a greater emphasis on family life and personal well-being. He and his family have spent considerable time in London, away from the constant attention that follows him in India. Kohli has also embraced a more spiritual lifestyle, often visiting temples and speaking about the role faith and inner peace have played in his life and career.

Having spent a season alongside Kohli at RCB, Liam Livingstone offered a glimpse into the former India captain’s personality away from the spotlight. The England all-rounder said there is a stark contrast between Kohli’s fierce, ultra-competitive presence on the field and his calm, family-oriented nature off it.

“On the field, he’s ultra-competitive. As soon as he steps over that line, he’s a different person. But, away from cricket, he is a really nice, chill guy, loves spending time with his family. Very chilled out guy,” Livingstone said on the Stick to Cricket Podcast.

Livingstone also spoke about the challenges that come with Kohli’s immense popularity in India, saying the former captain prefers a quieter life away from the constant public attention.

“Almost like he doesn’t want that life, he lives in India. He doesn’t really want the eyes on him all the time. He is a genuinely nice guy,” he added.

“When he gets out onto the pitch, he is the most competitive player I have seen,” he added.

Three months after the star batter led India to the T20 World Cup 2026 title, Suryakumar Yadav is set to be axed from the captaincy role

Suryakumar Yadav is likely to no longer be the T20I captain of the Indian cricket team, sources told NDTV. Three months after the star batter led India to the T20 World Cup 2026 title, Yadav is set to be axed from the captaincy role. His place in the team will also be discussed, the sources added. The decision comes days before the squads for India’s Ireland and England tours (both later this month) are to be announced. The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) is looking for a new T20 captain, with the focus being the 2028 T20 World Cup. Yadav’s sacking is a step towards building a team for the future.

Yadav’s form has been below par in recent times and it affected the BCCI’s decision. Overall, Yadav has played 113 T20Is, scoring 3272 runs at an average of 36.35 and a strike rate of 162.94. However, in the recent past, his numbers have dwindled. From January 1, 2025 till March 2026, he scored 702 runs in 35 matches at an average of 26. From January 1, 2024 till December 31, 2024, he played 18 T20Is, scoring 429 runs at an average of 26.81.

SKY’s Dwindling Numbers

With his average hovering around 26, the veteran batter’s form raises some tough questions. In fact, in the recently concluded IPL 2026, Yadav tallied 270 runs in 13 innings, averaging just 20.76. Yadav, who was made the T20 captain in 2024, saw a sharp drop in numbers since he got the top job.

Since becoming the India T20I captain in July 2024, Yadav has an average of 25.88 with six half-centuries and four ducks. It’s a sharp drop from his pre-captaincy numbers. Before he got the captaincy, his average was 43.60, with four centuries and 20 half-centuries.

Performance As Captain

Under Yadav, India won the 2025 Asia Cup as well as the 2026 T20 World Cup. He was also part of the sides which won the 2024 T20 World Cup and the 2023 Asia Cup.

Yadav has always been considered a super-strong batter, plying his trade in the No. 3 and No. 4 spots. Known for playing unorthodox shots, Yadav’s prowess lies in the fact that he can accelerate like none other even when the team is in trouble.

Source : https://sports.ndtv.com/cricket/suryakumar-yadav-indias-t20-world-cup-winning-captain-likely-to-be-sacked-sources-11587451

A video of Royal Challengers Bengaluru star batter Tim David has been going viral on social media

A video of Royal Challengers Bengaluru star batter Tim David has been going viral on social media. In the video, the authenticity of which could not be verified, David can be seen smoking a cigar-like object on the field. Several social media users claimed the video was taken after RCB’s IPL 2026 final win over Gujarat Titans on Sunday. Another section of social media said that the video is AI-generated and had been tampered with.

What added twists to the tale was a photo post by David’s RCB teammate Phil Salt. In the photo, posted two days ago, Salt and David can be seen sitting in the dressing room with David holding a cigar-like object. David or RCB are yet to comment on the viral video.

Tim David openly smoking Cigar 😭
Iss this AI or real ??? pic.twitter.com/50TFDdnX7I

— Prxtham.Edits18 (@Prxtham_Edits18) June 3, 2026

Imagine spreading an AI-generated video of Tim David smoking cigar on the ground. Do better, man, these stuff doesn’t look good at all.

— Shailesh (@shailesh18_) June 3, 2026

Tim David smoking cigar after Final victory🧐,Is this real or Ai ?

If this is real , This could also be a reason for the ban.#Timdavid #rcbfinal pic.twitter.com/4Bp3RLVq30

— Infinite Infos (@infiniteInfos) June 3, 2026

An IPL player smoking on the field is a highly unique incident, though earlier in the season Rajasthan Royals captain Riyan Parag was videographed vaping inside the dressing room.

Meanwhile, David was on Monday suspended for one match next season apart from being handed a fine of 50 per cent of his match fee for breaching the IPL’s Code of Conduct during the final against Gujarat Titans here.

The 30-year-old David collected two demerit points for his offence and has now accumulated five demerit points, which amounts to a suspension of one game, the IPL said in a statement.

It is the third instance of the Australian cricketer breaching the IPL’s Code of Conduct this season, with the tournament coming to an end on Sunday after RCB won their second title on the trot, beating GT by five wickets in the final.

“Tim David, Batter, Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB), has been fined 50 per cent of his match fee and has also accumulated two Demerit Points for breaching Level 1 of the IPL’s Code of Conduct for Players and Team Officials,” the IPL said.

“David was found to have breached Article 2.9 of the IPL’s Code of Conduct, which relates to “throwing a ball (or any other item of cricket equipment such as a water bottle) at or near a Player, Team Official, Umpire, Match Referee or any other third person in an inappropriate and/or dangerous manner during a Match.” David admitted to the offence and accepted the sanction imposed by match referee Javagal Srinath, after he was found guilty of throwing an ice bag “aggressively” in the direction of on-field umpire Nitin Menon.

Source : https://sports.ndtv.com/ipl-2026/did-tim-david-smoke-cigar-on-field-after-rcbs-ipl-win-viral-video-divides-internet-phil-salts-photo-adds-twist-11587292

 

Hardik Pandya and Rohit Sharma have been kept in India’s ODI squad vs Afghanistan, but their participation is subject to fitness clearance.

India are set to take on Afghanistan in a one-off Test and a series of three ODI matches. While the red-ball game is scheduled to begin on June 6, the one-dayers are set to start on June 13. The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has already announced the squads for the two formats. In ODIs, two players — Hardik Pandya and Rohit Sharma — have been kept in the squad, but their participation in the games will be subject to fitness clearance, informed the Board.

Hardik is set to reach the BCCI Centre of Excellence (CoE) in Bengaluru and is expected to spend a week there before joining his India teammates for the ODI series against Afghanistan, reported Times of India. It further said that the BCCI instructed both Hardik and Rohit to report to the CoE, but there is no update on the India opener.

India’s ODI Squad: Shubman Gill (Captain), Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer (vice-captain), KL Rahul (wicket-keeper), Ishan Kishan (wicket-keeper), Hardik Pandya, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Washington Sundar, Kuldeep Yadav, Arshdeep Singh, Prasidh Krishna, Prince Yadav, Gurnoor Brar, Harsh Dubey.

Auqib, Zeeshan among 7 picked to bowl in India nets ahead of Afghan Test

Jammu and Kashmir seamer Auqib Nabi Dar, whose non-selection in the Indian Test squad invited widespread criticism, has been summoned by the team management along with six others to bowl in the nets ahead of the one-off Test against Afghanistan starting June 6.

Besides Auqib, wiry UP leg-spinner Zeeshan Ansari, who plays for Sunrisers Hyderabad in the IPL, has also been asked to bowl in the nets as the Afghanistan team is expected to have a few wrist spinners.

“Yes Auqib Nabi has been asked to join the India nets. It is not just Auqib but there are six others, who have also been called to join the India nets. Due to extreme weather conditions, the two premier fast bowlers Mohammed Siraj and Prasidh Krishna can’t go flat out in the nets after a gruelling three games in seven days with travel. The batters would need adequate practice,” a BCCI source privy to the development told PTI.

Auqib, who got 60 wickets to become highest wicket-taker while guiding Jammu and Kashmir to Ranji Trophy triumph, was pipped by gangly Punjab paceman Gurnoor Brar in the Indian team.

The J&K medium pacer’s omission had caused a furore with former India skipper and ex-chairman of selection committee Dilip Vengsarkar questioning the sanctity of Ranji Trophy if performances in the tournament weren’t rewarded.

Source : https://sports.ndtv.com/india-vs-afghanistan-2026/bcci-asks-rohit-sharma-hardik-pandya-to-reach-bengaluru-only-one-has-complied-yet-report-11580435?pfrom=home-ndtv_topstories

R Praggnanandhaa made headlines in Round 8 of Norway Chess 2026 by defeating World No.1 Magnus Carlsen, marking his second victory against the Norwegian in the tournament.

R Praggnanandhaa created history in Round 8 of the Norway Chess 2026 in Oslo. He defeated World No.1 Magnus Carlsen, securing his second consecutive win in the same tournament against the Norwegian chess legend. He had earlier beaten him in Round 4. Previously too, the 20-year-old Indian Grandmaster had defeated Carlsen in the 2024 edition of Norway Chess. This makes Praggnanandhaa the first Indian, and among a very select few in the world, to defeat Magnus Carlsen thrice.

Playing with the black pieces, Praggnanandhaa entered the Round 8 matchup aiming to replicate the success he found against Carlsen in Round 4. The game evolved into an intense battle of nerves and wits. However, even under pressure, Praggnanandhaa successfully kept the five-time World Champion under the pump.

As the clock ticked down, Magnus Carlsen found himself in severe time trouble and struggled to find accurate defensive moves. The pressure ultimately forced a crucial blunder from the Norwegian, leading to a forced mate and securing Praggnanandhaa’s victory. With this win, Praggnanandhaa remained on third place with 12 points and remains firmly in contention for the Norway Chess 2026 title. He currently sits closely behind tournament leader Wesley So (14 points) and France’s Alireza Firouzja (13 points).

Despite the monumental nature of beating Magnus Carlsen twice in the same event, R Praggnanandhaa remained focussed on the broader tournament implications.

“It’s more important for the tournament that I get this win than thinking that it’s Magnus,” Praggnanandhaa noted after the match in the press conference.

“Of course, it’s great to do it against Magnus, but I think winning any game at this stage of the tournament is good,” he added.

The BCCI Secretary also praised teenage sensation 15-year-old teenage sensation Vaibhav Sooryavanshi for his exceptional performances throughout the season.

BCCI Secretary Devajit Saikia congratulated Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) for their consecutive IPL titles following their five-wicket win over Gujarat Titans (GT) in the 2026 final in Ahmedabad. The BCCI Secretary also praised teenage sensation 15-year-old teenage sensation Vaibhav Sooryavanshi for his exceptional performances throughout the season. The 15-year-old Bihar-born batter had an extraordinary tournament for Rajasthan Royals, finishing as the highest run-scorer with 776 runs at an exceptional strike rate of 237.30. At just 15 years and 65 days old, Sooryavanshi also set a new IPL record as the youngest Orange Cap winner.

The previous record was held by Gujarat Titans opener Sudharsan, who won it at 23 years and 231 days in 2025, while Shubman Gill had set the record in 2023 at 23 years and 263 days.

Speaking to reporters, Saikia said, “It was a wonderful season… I hope all the fans have a lovely time during this IPL, and congratulations to RCB for winning the tournament consecutively twice. Vaibhav Sooryavanshi is a wonderful player coming up, and he has a bright future. BCCI will do everything to get him to the highest level of cricket.”

Additionally, on the upcoming ICC Women’s T20 World Cup later this month, the BCCI Secretary said, “That is the most challenging thing coming up in the coming days. They (Women in Blue) are already doing well… and I hope they will repeat the same performance they did last year by winning the ODI title.”

BJP MP Anurag Thakur also congratulated the Rajat Patidar-led Bengaluru for winning the grand finale against the Titans on Sunday night.

Speaking to reporters, Thakur said, “I congratulate RCB for winning the IPL for the second consecutive time. The match was happening in Ahmedabad, but many RCB fans had come to watch the match. This was a great victory in cricket… IPL is the biggest league of cricket. This is a very big achievement of BCCI.”

Coming to the IPL 2026 final, Put to bat first by RCB, GT scored just 155/8 in 20 overs, with Washington Sundar (50* in 37 balls, with five fours) and Nishant Sindhu (20 in 18 balls, with three fours) being the only ones to cross the 20-run mark. Rasikh Dar Salam (3/27), Bhuvneshwar Kumar (2/29) and Josh Hazlewood (2/37) took wickets regularly.

Source : https://sports.ndtv.com/ipl-2026/india-debut-soon-for-vaibhav-sooryavanshi-bcci-secretary-devajit-saikia-makes-huge-remark-11573217?pfrom=home-ndtv_lateststories

Lalit Modi, the creator of the IPL, has made an outrageous prediction about Vaibhav Sooryavanshi — with a warning attached.

The cricketing world cannot stop talking about Vaibhav Sooryavanshi.

A tally of 776 runs in IPL 2026, a staggering strike rate of 237.3 and 72 sixes would be extraordinary for any batter. Add the fact that he is only 15 years old and achieved those numbers against seasoned international bowlers, and the feat begins to feel almost beyond comprehension. And while Sooryavanshi has already vowed to return even stronger next season, Lalit Modi, the creator of the IPL, has made an outrageous prediction about the wonderkid — with a warning attached.

Just over a week ago, in a conversation with Kevin Pietersen on The Switch, Sooryavanshi revealed that he has set his sights on one of T20 cricket’s greatest batting milestones.

“I want to score 200 in T20,” he said.

When the former England captain reminded him that Chris Gayle’s 175 remains the highest score in the format, Sooryavanshi doubled down. “I want to break his record and score 200.”

At one stage during the Eliminator against Sunrisers Hyderabad in Chandigarh last week, it genuinely seemed as though the cricketing world might witness the first double century in men’s T20 cricket. Sooryavanshi smashed 97 runs off just 28 balls and stood on the verge of surpassing Gayle’s record for the fastest century in IPL history, which came off 30 deliveries. But the Rajasthan Royals opener fell on the very next ball.

Reflecting on Sooryavanshi’s ambition to score a T20 double century, Lalit Modi told *Wisden* that he was eagerly awaiting that moment before making a bold prediction — and issuing a warning.

“I am looking forward to that day. Sooryavanshi, you will make 200. I promise you. Don’t let money get into your head. You will become the number one superstar on the planet, bigger than any Hollywood or Bollywood star. Don’t let anybody tell you anything. Play with your heart. You will beat my good friend Chris Gayle, whose bat I have on my wall downstairs,”* he said.

Runs, records and sixes aside, the biggest takeaway from Sooryavanshi’s IPL 2026 campaign was his maturity.

Whether it was dealing with the constant noise surrounding a potential India debut or adapting to pressure situations, the teenager repeatedly displayed a level of composure rarely seen in players his age.

His 96 off 47 balls against Gujarat Titans in Qualifier 2 perhaps summed it up best. The innings showed he is far more than a six-hitter, revealing an ability to absorb pressure, assess situations and adjust his approach according to the demands of the game.

Source : https://www.hindustantimes.com/cricket/lalit-modi-makes-bigger-than-hollywood-greater-than-gayle-prophecy-for-sooryavanshi-but-warns-him-about-one-thing-101780361484141.html

A 70-foot statue of legendary footballer Lionel Messi, which was installed along VIP Road in Kolkata’s Lake Town area, was removed after residents raised concerns over its stability

A 70-foot statue of legendary footballer Lionel Messi, which was installed along VIP Road in Kolkata’s Lake Town area, was removed after residents raised concerns over its stability, saying the structure was swaying in strong winds on Monday. The 70-foot statue of Messi was built last December ahead of the FIFA World Cup-winning superstar’s ‘GOAT Tour’ to India. It features Messi holding the 2022 FIFA World Cup trophy and was constructed by fans as a tribute to the football icon.

Messi visited the country last year across four stops – West Bengal, Hyderabad, Mumbai and Delhi – along with Luis Suarez and Rodrigo De Paul, his Inter Miami teammates. However, there were complaints from local residents to the Public Works Department (PWD) as the statue looked unstable in the wind, and an inspection was carried out. It was established that its structural integrity was compromised and that it must be taken down before any potential mishap.

#WATCH | Kolkata, West Bengal | Lionel Messi statue at VIP road in Lake Town removed after locals complained that the statue was swaying due to the wind. pic.twitter.com/Jyhj0Qya4u

— ANI (@ANI) June 1, 2026

West Bengal MLA Sharadwat Mukherjee said, as quoted by ESPN, “The statue of the Argentine football legend was found to be unsafe.”

“We have noticed that the statue is swaying in the wind,” Mukherjee added. The monument was built over a span of 27 days. Authorities are currently looking for alternate locations for the statue for its reassembly.

Meanwhile, a week ago, Satadru Dutta, the main organiser of Lionel Messi’s GOAT Tour to India, filed a complaint against the former Sports Minister of West Bengal, Arup Biswas, accusing him of misconduct, including claims that tickets to Messi’s Kolkata event were misused and that the organiser faced pressure over issuing access cards.

Messi’s Kolkata leg of the GOAT Tour had earlier descended into chaos, as fans who had purchased high-priced tickets at Salt Lake Stadium reportedly began throwing bottles and attempting to break gates between stands after the Argentine football legend left the venue early.

Source : https://sports.ndtv.com/football/lionel-messis-unsafe-70-foot-statue-in-kolkata-removed-six-months-after-installation-11577486

 

From the moment RCB came into existence, its journey became intertwined with Virat Kohli – sometimes in joy, sometimes in despair. But for the last two seasons, it has been ecstasy.

Virat Kohli is Royal Challengers Bengaluru. Royal Challengers Bengaluru is Virat Kohli. There can be no two ways about it. RCB is the only IPL franchise that Kohli has played for. From the moment RCB came into existence, its journey became intertwined with Kohli – sometimes in joy, sometimes in despair. But for the last two seasons, it has been ecstasy. After an 18-year wait, RCB and Kohli tasted IPL title success for the first time in 2025. On Sunday, RCB experienced that champions’ feeling again, and Virat Kohli played the lead role against the Gujarat Titans in the final.

Kohli, battling cramps and the pressure of a chase, rose to the occasion like he has done so many times in Indian cricket. He stayed unbeaten on 75* after scoring his fastest-ever IPL half-century in just 25 balls and ensured that RCB chased down the 156-run target in only 18 overs.

‘You Cannot Be Casual Around Virat Kohli’

Venkatesh Iyer got the chance to witness the magic of Virat Kohli up close this whole season – first in the RCB camp, and then as Kohli’s fellow opener in the last few matches, including the final. In an exclusive interview with NDTV’s Consulting Editor Boria Majumdar, Iyer gave a personal account of what makes Kohli special.

“He does not want to see his team down. That kind of lifts the entire team. If you are sharing the field with Virat, you cannot keep your shoulders down. You cannot just stroll or jog to your positions. You cannot do that because this guy, after achieving so much and being regarded as one of the legends of the game, still shows so much intensity and hunger. Who are you to take it lightly and be casual?” Iyer said.

Kohli’s Presence ‘Gives Confidence To The Team’

In the final against GT, while chasing the 156-run target, RCB raced to 62/0 in 4.2 overs with Kohli and Iyer (32 off 16 balls) in full flow. Then came the blip. From 62/0, they slipped to 63/2 in 5.1 overs. But Kohli’s focus remained intact.

“It’s the belief in the skill that he has. Obviously, that comes from years and years of working hard and understanding the game. Whatever situation we want to be in, that person has already seen and understood it,” Iyer said.

“We were calm throughout, even after losing a couple of quick wickets, because we knew Virat was there. His presence itself gives confidence to the team. That’s what he has earned over the years – to show what presence is, what aura is. If he is on the field, there is already a mental battle the opposition has to play.”

‘There Is A Method To Everything He Does’

“It’s a method. It’s not something that just comes naturally to him or to Indian cricket. There is a method to his practice. There is a method to the way he approaches the game – high energy all the time.”

Iyer, who has played for Kolkata Knight Riders and was once among the costliest players in IPL history, said Kohli’s tactical nuances are something worth learning from. He added that while they do not speak much while batting, he still learns a lot from Kohli.

Source : https://sports.ndtv.com/ipl-2026/cant-keep-your-shoulders-down-around-virat-kohli-what-makes-rcb-star-special-venkatesh-iyer-reveals-11577931

 

 

Four-time former champion Iga Swiatek was eliminated from theFrench Open fourth round on Sunday as the Polish third seed went down 7-5, 6-1 to Ukrainian 15th seed Marta Kostyuk

Marta Kostyuk reached the quarterfinals at the French Open for the first time on Sunday by taking out four-time champion Iga Swiatek 7-5, 6-1 and ruining her birthday. Kostyuk, who is undefeated on clay this season, had lost their three previous matches and never taken a set against the former top-ranked player, who turned 25 on Sunday. She defended extremely well, chasing Swiatek’s shots all over the court, and also produced some stunning groundstroke winners while her rival was also undone by her own mistakes.

An intense baseline battle unfolded from the outset and Swiatek earned the first break when she overwhelmed Kostyuk after a long rally with a backhand winner. Kostyuk broke back immediately, though, only to drop her serve again and hand Swiatek a 5-4 lead.

The Polish player showed signs of nerves as she double-faulted, shanked a forehand wide and then missed a volley at the net, allowing Kostyuk to level at 5-5. Swiatek hit two more double faults in the 12th game and the 15th-seeded Ukrainian player sealed the set with a backhand passing shot.

Swiatek then briefly left the court. Meanwhile, Kostyuk kept herself warm by stretching and hopping beside her chair, then received some applause as she did a few dance moves to the music playing in the stadium.

Following a first week marked by a suffocating heatwave, relief finally arrived in Paris on Sunday, with temperatures dropping to 21 degrees C (70 F) around midday.

When play resumed, Swiatek broke, but yet another double fault coupled with more unforced errors brought her opponent back at 1-1. Kostyuk then won the last five games.

Source : https://sports.ndtv.com/french-open-2026/four-time-champion-iga-swiatek-knocked-out-of-french-open-fourth-round-11571639

It has been learned that the team members, who are all safe and unhurt despite smoke spreading inside the bus, waited on the road for a short while before another bus was arranged to take them to the hotel.

Following a disappointing defeat in the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026 final, the Gujarat Titans escaped a major scare when their team bus suffered a short circuit. It was reported that the electrical fault caused smoke to fill the vehicle; however, no one was harmed as all players and staff were successfully evacuated. The incident occurred on Sunday night while the team was returning to their hotel from the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad. Although everyone remained safe, the disruption left the players stranded for about an hour, compounding a miserable night for the franchise, who had earlier lost the IPL final to Royal Challengers Bengaluru by five wickets.

It was also a continuation of their tough travel itinerary as GT had to travel from Dharamsala to Mullanpur on May 27 to play the Qualifier 2 against Rajasthan Royals on May 29.

However, their scheduled departure to Ahmedabad on May 30 was inordinately delayed because of inclement weather in Mullanpur. GT reached their home base late on Saturday evening.

Was fatigue a reason for the Titans’ meek surrender to RCB in the IPL final? “I don’t want to take away from the fact that RCB have won by simply stating that we’ve had this number of games in these short days and we’re fatigued and that’s not really what we’re about,” said Vikram Solanki, GT’s Director of Cricket, in the post-match press conference.

Source : https://sports.ndtv.com/ipl-2026/gujarat-titans-team-bus-catches-fire-after-ipl-2026-final-players-evacuated-11573463

It has been pre-decided that the BCCI will need to select two separate T20 teams as India’s home white-ball series against the West Indies overlaps partly with the quadrennial extravaganza.

India’s current T20 skipper Suryakumar Yadav, along with Test and ODI captain Shubman Gill, are the two prominent names missing, while teen sensation Vaibhav Sooryavanshi has been inducted into the 30-strong longlist of men’s probables that the BCCI has submitted to the IOA for the Asian Games in Aichi-Nagoya from September 19 to October 4. It has been pre-decided that the BCCI will need to select two separate T20 teams as India’s home white-ball series against the West Indies overlaps partly with the quadrennial extravaganza.

The West Indies series comprises eight white-ball games — three ODIs and five T20Is — between September 27 to October 17. Since Gill is expected to lead the team in ODIs, he hasn’t been picked for the Asian Games.

While some players are common in both ODIs and T20Is, men’s cricket event at the Asian Games will take place between September 24 to October 3, forcing the selectors to create a bigger pool to pick two teams.

It is understood that Suryakumar is no longer in the larger scheme of things as far as 2028 Olympic Games and the next T20 World Cup is concerned, and his name not featuring in the Asian Games longlist is a no-brainer.

The captaincy candidates in that Asian Games list would be Shreyas Iyer, Sanju Samson and Tilak Varma.

The list of bowlers has Jasprit Bumrah’s name in it although ODIs could be his priority at that point in time taking the 2027 World Cup into account.

Harshit Rana is expected to be fit by then and has been kept in the long-list along with Prasidh Krishna and Arshdeep Singh.

Among spinners, the frontline slow bowlers Kuldeep Yadav, Axar Patel, Washington Sundar and Harsh Dubey have made it to the list, but only two of the four are expected to be picked. The other two will play the Windies series.

Surprisingly, the only prominent non-performer to make the list is gold medal-winning skipper from the Hangzhou edition — Ruturaj Gaikwad.

Source : https://sports.ndtv.com/cricket/vaibhav-sooryavanshi-given-huge-boost-in-india-debut-hopes-shubman-gill-suryakumar-yadav-absent-from-asian-games-plan-11568127?pfrom=home-ndtv_topscroll

 

Barcelona confirmed the signing of Anthony Gordon from Newcastle United on Friday, for a fee that could rise to 80 million euros ($93 million).

Barcelona confirmed the signing of Anthony Gordon from Newcastle United on Friday, for a fee that could rise to 80 million euros ($93 million). Gordon will sign for “the next five seasons, until June 30, 2031,” Barcelona said in a brief statement. The 25-year-old left winger netted 17 goals for Newcastle this season, 10 of those in the Champions League, and was the club’s top scorer. “As a kid, to play for Barcelona is the biggest dream possible, it’s the biggest club on the planet,” Gordon told reporters.

“I know it comes with a lot of responsibility, but like I said, I’m ready for this kind of challenge, ready for that responsibility.

“I know everybody, the players in the past who’ve worn the shirt, it holds a lot of weight, but I’m ready. I’m excited for the challenge.”

Gordon, part of England’s World Cup squad, bolsters a Barcelona attack losing Polish veteran striker Robert Lewandowski at the end of his contract, and possibly Marcus Rashford after his loan spell from Manchester United.

La Liga champions Barcelona still hope to strengthen further in the coming weeks, with Atletico Madrid striker Julian Alvarez linked with a switch to Catalonia, while the club have not ruled out a new move to keep Rashford.

After three years of reduced expenditure and with their partially rebuilt Camp Nou stadium reopened, Barca have more economic breathing room within La Liga’s strict financial fair play rules than previously.

Lewandowski’s departure and the end of Rashford’s loan give Barca margin to spend, while other players including Roony Bardghji, Ansu Fati and Marc-Andre ter Stegen may also leave.

Source : https://sports.ndtv.com/football/barcelona-sign-winger-anthony-gordon-from-newcastle-united-11566550

For some, Cristiano Ronaldo remains the essential spearhead for Portugal’s 2026 World Cup bid, while others believe his presence will prevent Roberto Martinez’s strong side from flourishing.

For some, Cristiano Ronaldo remains the essential spearhead for Portugal’s 2026 World Cup bid, while others believe his presence will prevent Roberto Martinez’s strong side from flourishing. The debate around the five-time Ballon d’Or winner rages on, as it did at Euro 2024 and four years ago in Qatar — yet Ronaldo endures, ready to play in a record sixth World Cup. The 41-year-old remains a global superstar despite swapping the European elite for Saudi Arabia’s Al-Nassr, and is the leading men’s international goalscorer with 143 strikes.

With 25 of those coming in 30 games under Martinez, the coach insists that Ronaldo is being selected on merit rather than because of his status.

The Spanish coach himself also faced scrutiny after Portugal’s Euro 2024 quarter-final exit, with his detractors believing that such a strong squad was capable of winning.

Martinez started Ronaldo in all five games they played but the striker failed to find the net in Germany.

This season, Manchester United playmaker Bruno Fernandes set a new record for Premier League assists, and the Paris Saint-Germain contingent –- including Vitinha, Joao Neves and Nuno Mendes -– are among the best in their positions in the world.

When he was appointed in 2023, Martinez had the choice of whether to make a clean break from Ronaldo or maintain him as the team’s captain and talisman, opting for the latter.

In response to the naysayers, Martinez can point to the team’s successful 2025 Nations League triumph as proof that he is right to lean on Ronaldo.

The Portugal icon struck against Spain in the final to win his third international trophy, after Euro 2016 and the 2019 Nations League.

“I have many titles with clubs, but nothing is better than winning for Portugal,” said Ronaldo after the game. “It’s tears. It’s mission accomplished, and pure joy.”

The striker is closing in on 1,000 career goals for club and country, currently just 17 short.

Ronaldo is the team’s captain and leader, feared by opponents and with international experience gained over more than two decades — his Portugal debut was in 2003.

Martinez has highlighted the “inspiring mindset” of the veteran forward, who operates now as a centre-forward rather than the flying winger of his youth.

Ronaldo’s team-mates still believe the striker is delivering for Portugal.

PSG midfielder Vitinha told FIFA that it was “fantastic” to play with the former Real Madrid and Manchester United forward.

“He’s one of the greatest players in history,” said Vitinha.

“I’m very proud to share the dressing room with him, learn from him and witness his professionalism every day.

“I hope we can win the World Cup with him and for him as well.”

‘Can’t worry’ about Ronaldo

In Portugal, where Ronaldo is a revered icon, it is rarely advisable to argue against him.

“Cristiano inside the box continues to be a very high-level player,” Fernandes told Canal 11, a television channel run by the Portuguese football federation, in December.

“I know what people think, that it’s clear we play better without Ronaldo, that the players are freer and more fluid,” Fernandes continued.

“If that happens, it’s partly our fault. We can’t worry if Cristiano is on the pitch, because Cristiano can give us things.”

Portugal’s pressing suffers with Ronaldo and the team appears more cohesive without him. When Ronaldo starts, sometimes it seems as if the team works largely to service him.

The forward even came in for rare criticism in his protective homeland after he was sent off against Ireland for an elbow in qualifying, although FIFA let him off the hook by suspending two matches of his ban, meaning he is clear to play from the start of the World Cup.

Portugal begin their campaign in Group K against DR Congo on June 17, before facing Uzbekistan on June 23 and Colombia on June 28.

Source : https://sports.ndtv.com/fifa-world-cup-2026/cristiano-ronaldos-final-bid-for-fifa-world-cup-glory-11566813