Editorji is a popular short video news and information platform based in India. It was founded in 2018 by Vikram Chandra, one of India’s leading journalists, and has risen to prominence in the digital news space in a relatively short span of time. The platform is primarily designed for mobile devices, with applications available for Android and iOS.

ABOUT US:

about us editorji

Latest Video News: Editorji provides the latest news video headlines, latest videos clip from India and the World. Get all breaking news videos on Entertainment, Business, Coronavirus, Elections, Politics and more.

Latest Video News, Breaking News, Bollywood, Political, Sports, Business News | Editorji

+91 11 4035 6666 / info@editorji.com
3rd floor, Plot B, Khasara no 360, Sultanpur, New Delhi, Delhi 110030
<a title="mail to us" href="mailto:info@editorji.com">Send Feedback</a>
<a title="Contact Us" href="mailto:info@editorji.com">Contact Us</a>

REACH US

Contact for any questions, suggestions, comments, feedback or advertisement on Editorji.com, we are always looking forward to hearing from you.

Contact Us for Feedback, Suggestions and Advertising 

Editorji content is better experienced in our app.

More Sports news

Gulveer Singh clocks 28:29.38 to win silver in the men's 10,000m, while Manpreet Kaur claims bronze in women's shot put.

Gulveer Singh Wins 10,000m Silver as India Reaches 22 Medals at Asian Games 2026

Gulveer Singh clocks 28:29.38 to win silver in the men's 10,000m, while Manpreet Kaur claims bronze in women's shot put.

India's long-distance runner Gulveer Singh clinched the silver medal in the men's 10,000m event at the Asian Games 2026 at the Nagoya City Mizuho Park Athletic Stadium on Friday.
The 28-year-old runner clocked 28:29.38 to finish second behind Bahrain's Birhanu Balew, who produced a late surge to win gold in 28:27.51. Balew's compatriot Albert Kiptoo claimed bronze with a timing of 28:34.38, according to ESPN.
Gulveer, a Naib Subedar in the Indian Army, stayed with the leading pack for much of the race and remained in contention until the closing stages. Balew pulled away over the final stretch, but Gulveer held on comfortably to secure silver.
Gulveer Improves on Asian Games Bronze
The medal marks an improvement for Gulveer from the previous edition, where he won bronze in the men's 10,000m at the 2022 Asian Games in Hangzhou.
The Indian runner has enjoyed a strong run of form in recent years. He won gold medals in both the 5,000m and 10,000m at the 2025 Asian Athletics Championships in Gumi, South Korea.
At the 2026 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, Gulveer became the first Indian to win two medals in track events at a single edition of the Games, taking silver in the 10,000m and bronze in the 5,000m.
Earlier, he had won bronze in the men's 5,000m at the 2023 Asian Athletics Championships in Bangkok.
Pooja Finishes Sixth in Heptathlon 800m
Meanwhile, India's Pooja finished sixth in the women's heptathlon 800m with a time of 2:16.43, while Anamika Aneesh finished eighth.
India added another athletics medal on Friday, with Manpreet Kaur winning bronze in the women's shot put.
Manpreet produced a best throw of 17.17m, while Krishna Jayasankar Menon finished fifth with a throw of 16.57m.
India at Asian Games 2026
At the time of writing, India had won 22 medals at the Asian Games, comprising two gold, nine silver and 11 bronze medals, and stood 12th in the standings.

The Indian men's hockey team defeated South Korea 8-2 at the Asian Games, with Dilpreet Singh scoring a hat-trick. Harmanpreet Singh, Abhishek and Rajinder also found the net as defending champions India continued their winning run.

India thrash South Korea 8-2, Dilpreet Singh scores hat-trick at Asian Games

The Indian men's hockey team defeated South Korea 8-2 at the Asian Games, with Dilpreet Singh scoring a hat-trick. Harmanpreet Singh, Abhishek and Rajinder also found the net as defending champions India continued their winning run.

The Indian men's hockey team continued its dominant run at the ongoing Asian Games, registering an emphatic 8-2 victory over South Korea on Thursday.
Dilpreet Singh starred for India, scoring a hat-trick to continue his impressive form in the tournament. India had earlier defeated Indonesia 13-1 and Sri Lanka 16-1.
The defending champions have matches against Japan on September 26 and Bangladesh on September 28 remaining in the group stage. India will aim to maintain its winning run, retain its Asian Games gold medal and secure a direct qualification spot for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics.
Shailanand Lakra opened the scoring for India in the fourth minute. Abhishek's pass was initially blocked, but the rebound fell to Lakra, who made no mistake in putting India ahead.
Dilpreet Singh doubled India's advantage in the ninth minute with a powerful hit from the centre. His effort struck the goalkeeper before finding the back of the net, as South Korea's defensive lapse allowed India to take a 2-0 lead.
Indian captain Harmanpreet Singh converted the team's first penalty corner in the 11th minute to extend the lead to 3-0.
Abhishek then scored India's fourth goal with an excellent finish, assisted by Shailanand. India ended the opening quarter with a commanding 4-0 advantage.
India continued to control proceedings in the second quarter, although neither side scored during the initial exchanges. The Indian players attempted several aerial passes before Dilpreet struck again in the 26th minute.
Collecting a pass from Manpreet Singh, Dilpreet deflected the ball past the South Korean goalkeeper to make it 5-0. India maintained its dominance as South Korea struggled to create scoring opportunities before half-time.
Dilpreet completed his hat-trick in the 32nd minute, converting a quick pass from Rajinder with a powerful tomahawk shot.
India continued to create opportunities from penalty corners but could not convert several attempts. Abhishek eventually scored India's seventh goal following an excellent team move involving multiple passes.
Sukhjeet Singh's shot was initially saved, and although South Korea attempted to clear the ball, it fell to Abhishek, who finished quickly to extend India's lead.
South Korea finally got on the scoresheet in the 42nd minute through Kim Jaeho. India ended the third quarter with a commanding 7-1 lead.
South Korea managed to add another goal in the 52nd minute, with Kim Yongbok finding the net to make it 7-2.
However, India had the final say as Rajinder scored in the last minute of the match to seal an emphatic 8-2 victory for the defending champions.
With three consecutive wins in the group stage, India will now turn its attention to the upcoming matches against Japan and Bangladesh as it continues its campaign to defend the Asian Games title and secure direct qualification for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics.

Mirabai Chanu secured silver in the women’s 49kg weightlifting category at the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games 2026, lifting a combined 198kg. 

Mirabai Chanu Completes Medal Collection With Asian Games Silver

Mirabai Chanu secured silver in the women&rsquo;s 49kg weightlifting category at the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games 2026, lifting a combined 198kg.&nbsp;

Mirabai Chanu has added another major achievement to her decorated career, winning silver in the women&rsquo;s 49kg weightlifting category at the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games 2026 on Wednesday.
The 32-year-old Indian lifted a combined 198kg to secure her maiden Asian Games medal, completing a collection that already includes Olympic, Commonwealth, World and Asian Championship medals.
Chanu was flawless in the snatch, successfully completing all three attempts at 83kg, 85kg and 87kg. She then opened her clean and jerk campaign with 107kg before lifting 111kg in her second attempt to finish with a total of 198kg.
North Korea&rsquo;s Ri Song Gum took gold with a total lift of 215kg, while Wijayana claimed bronze.
The silver marked a significant milestone for Chanu, who had previously been unable to secure an Asian Games medal. At the 2023 Hangzhou Asian Games, an injury forced her to withdraw from her final clean and jerk attempt, leaving her in fourth place.
Three years later, she returned to the continental competition and finally secured the medal that had been missing from her collection.
Chanu has already won Olympic silver at Tokyo 2020, three Commonwealth Games gold medals and one silver, along with medals at the World, Commonwealth and Asian Championships.
With her Asian Games silver, Chanu became the second Indian weightlifter after Karnam Malleshwari to win medals at the Olympics, Asian Games, Commonwealth Games, World Championships, Asian Championships and Commonwealth Championships.
From Manipur Village To Global Podiums
Born on August 8, 1994, in Nongpok Kakching, Manipur, Chanu grew up as the youngest of six siblings in a modest family. According to a Sports Authority of India media release, her father, Saikhom Kriti Meitei, worked in the Public Works Department, while her mother, Saikhom Tombi, ran a small shop to support the family.
Her strength developed through everyday life in her village, where she helped collect firewood and carry water uphill across the hilly terrain.
Chanu initially wanted to become an archer, but her natural strength was spotted at the Khuman Lampak Sports Academy, eventually leading her towards weightlifting.
She began formal training in 2008 and frequently travelled from her village to Imphal. With her family unable to afford daily transportation, she often relied on passing truck drivers for rides to training.
Those early experiences remained an important part of her journey. After her Olympic success, Chanu invited some of the truck drivers who had helped her reach training sessions to join her

South Africa beat West Indies by nine wickets in their Super 8 clash to stay unbeaten and move closer to the T20 World Cup semifinals, with Aiden Markram starring in the chase.

T20 World Cup: Clinical South Africa hammer West Indies by nine wickets, tighten grip on semifinal spot

South Africa beat West Indies by nine wickets in their Super 8 clash to stay unbeaten and move closer to the T20 World Cup semifinals, with Aiden Markram starring in the chase.

A clinical South Africa outclassed West Indies by nine wickets in their Super 8 clash to stretch their unbeaten run and all but seal a place in the semifinals of the T20 World Cup in Ahmedabad on Thursday.
A dominating show by the Proteas pacers was followed by authoritative batting. Yet again, South Africa executed their plans perfectly to further their cause, racking up their sixth win on the trot and halting West Indies' unbeaten run in the tournament.
With South Africa taking two vital points off the West Indies, hosts India now have their qualification hopes firmly in their own hands as a Proteas defeat would have dented their chances severely. The loss hurt the Caribbean side&rsquo;s net run rate that came down to 1.791 from a healthy 5.350.
First it was South Africa pacers that rocked the West Indies&rsquo; batting line-up before a lower-order fightback from Romario Shepherd (52 not out) and Jason Holder (49) lifted the two-time champions to 176 for eight.
Then skipper Aiden Markram (82 not out), Quinton De Kock (47) and Ryan Rickelton (45 not out) batted with authority as the Proteas overhauled the target in 16.1 overs.
By collecting 69 runs from the six Powerplay overs, the South Africans had demoralised the Windies attack. Except for a few hit-and-miss shots, the two openers controlled the proceedings. They struck both pacers and spinners with equal ease and raised a quick 95-run stand in 7.5 overs, hitting 16 boundaries including six shots over the rope.
De Kock hit four sixes and as many fours in his 24-ball knock before offering a catch to Jason Holder at long-on. Markram raised his fifty with a single off Gudakesh Motie. With Rickelton, Markram raised an unbeaten 82-run stand and finished the game in style with a straight four off pacer Jason Holder.
Earlier, from the high of their dominant win over Zimbabwe, the West Indies were in for a rude shock as Kagiso Rabada (2/22) and Lungi Ngidi (3/30) got the ball to bounce from good length to trouble the batters, reducing the big-hitting West Indies line-up to 83 for seven.
Holder (49 off 31) and Romario Shepherd (52 not out off 37) then stitched together a record 89-run stand for the eighth wicket to prevent a complete collapse of the innings.
Opting to bowl, South Africa opened with spinner Keshav Maharaj but Shai Hope (16 off 6) showed early intent, launching him for two sixes and a four. At the other end, Brandon King (21 off 11) threw his bat around against Marco Jansen, collecting quick boundaries as the Caribbean side raced to 29 in just over two overs.
Rabada, however, brought the Proteas back into the contest by having Hope caught behind as the skipper fished outside off stump. It could have been two in two but Shimron Hetmyer (2) was dropped at mid-on by Corbin Bosch, but the reprieve proved brief.
However, Rabada sent back the left-hander three balls later when he miscued a pull. The in-form Ngidi then struck a double blow in the fourth over. After being hit for two consecutive fours by King, he had the opener caught behind and two balls later rattled Roston Chase&rsquo;s (2) stumps.
In the space of 10 deliveries, West Indies had lost four wickets and were 44 for four after four overs.
Sherfane Rutherford (12) briefly counterattacked, smashing Bosch for a towering six over midwicket, but perished next ball, top-edging to Quinton de Kock.
Ngidi&rsquo;s third wicket &mdash; Rovman Powell (9) &mdash; left West Indies tottering at 71 for six, while Matthew Forde (11) became Bosch&rsquo;s second victim soon after a six.
Just when a collapse seemed inevitable, Holder and Romario came to the team's rescue.
Holder, who hammered 22 runs in a Jansen over towards the end, fell to a run-out off the penultimate ball, but Shepherd ensured West Indies finished strongly.

New Zealand eliminated co-hosts Sri Lanka from the T20 World Cup with a commanding 61-run victory in their Super Eight clash. Rachin Ravindra starred with a career-best 4/27 and useful runs.

New Zealand knock out Sri Lanka from T20 World Cup with dominant Super Eight win

New Zealand eliminated co-hosts Sri Lanka from the T20 World Cup with a commanding 61-run victory in their Super Eight clash. Rachin Ravindra starred with a career-best 4/27 and useful runs.

Co-hosts Sri Lanka were on Wednesday knocked out of the T20 World Cup as Rachin Ravindra grabbed a career-best 4/27 in a splendid all-round display to power New Zealand to a comprehensive 61-run victory in their Super Eights clash in Colombo.
Cole McConchie justified his selection with a composed unbeaten 31 off 23 balls (3x4, 2x6) while skipper Mitchell Santner came into his own with a 26-ball 47 (2x4, 4x6) as the duo stitched a match-defining 84-run seventh wicket stand off 47 balls to lift New Zealand to 168/7 after Sri Lanka opted to bowl.
Having let the Kiwis flourish with 70 runs in the last four overs, Sri Lanka, who had collapsed for 95 against England in their Super Eights opener, suffered yet another batting meltdown.
Chasing 169, Sri Lanka could only score 107/8 with Ravindra &mdash; who also made 32 with the bat &mdash; leading the spin charge after pacer Matt Henry rocked the islanders in the powerplay with a sensational bowling display of 2-1-3-2.
The emphatic victory margin not only sealed two crucial points for New Zealand but also put them firmly on the brink of a semifinal berth. Pakistan will now need a massive win in their final game against Sri Lanka to keep their semifinal qualification hopes alive.
New Zealand next face England in their concluding Super Eights fixture on Friday, while Pakistan take on already-eliminated Sri Lanka in Pallekele on Saturday.
Defending 168, New Zealand strangled Sri Lanka in the powerplay through Henry. The pacer struck with the first ball of the opening over, dismissing in-form Pathum Nissanka for a golden duck with a 137kph delivery that pitched on a length outside off, jagged back in and crashed into the stumps.
In the first ball of his next over, Henry removed Charith Asalanka (5), taking pace off to induce a mistimed shot that resulted in a simple catch. Sri Lanka limped to 20 for two in the powerplay with a flurry of dot balls.
Ravindra then took control, dismissing Kusal Mendis with a sharp stumping after pulling his length back and spinning the ball away as the batter stepped out. Two balls later, Pavan Rathnayake charged down the track, was beaten in flight and stumped.
The left-arm spinner struck again, deceiving skipper Dasun Shanaka in the air before removing Dushan Hemantha with another delivery that gripped and turned. Santner quietly completed his quota with 1/19, taking Lankan top-scorer Kamindu Mendis (31) and sealing Sri Lanka&rsquo;s exit.
Invited to bat, New Zealand lost four wickets for nine runs between 9.3 and 12.1 overs as wily offspinner Maheesh Theekshana (3/30) and pacer Dushmantha Chameera (3/38) turned the contest around.
McConchie attacked Chameera in the 17th over, smashing two sixes and a four in an 18-run over. Santner then hit a four and two sixes against Theekshana in the 18th over that yielded 21 runs to seize momentum.
The duo&rsquo;s late onslaught saw New Zealand add 70 runs in the final four overs as Sri Lanka, though sharp earlier, faltered at the death.
At the halfway stage, on a dry Khettarama surface, Theekshana and Chameera shared six wickets to restrict New Zealand after they raced to 73/2 in nine overs.
Finn Allen smashed 23 off 13 balls (3x4, 1x6), while Ravindra looked fluent in his 32 off 22 balls (3x4, 1x6).
Theekshana then applied the brakes, removing Allen with his carrom ball and later dismissing Ravindra with a flighted delivery. He also bowled Mark Chapman for a two-ball duck with a disguised wrong one.
Chameera dismissed Tim Seifert (8) and Glenn Phillips (18), while Wellalage accounted for Daryl Mitchell (3).

Defending champions India face Zimbabwe in a crucial Super 8 clash in Chennai, needing a commanding victory to improve their net run rate after a heavy defeat to South Africa.

T20 World Cup: India seek answers to top-order worries in must-win Super 8s game against Zimbabwe

Defending champions India face Zimbabwe in a crucial Super 8 clash in Chennai, needing a commanding victory to improve their net run rate after a heavy defeat to South Africa.

Bogged down by top-order brittleness and under pressure after a heavy loss, defending champions India would need every ounce of resilience they can muster when they take on a tricky Zimbabwe in their second Super 8 match of the T20 World Cup in Chennai on Thursday.
Winning this contest by a big margin is critical to India's existence in the ICC showpiece given the beating their net run rate (-3.80) took after the 76-run defeat to South Africa on Sunday.
But for that, India need to fix the issues surrounding the opening and No.3 slots.
Coming into this World Cup, the reigning champions rode on excellence from Ishan Kishan and Abhishek Sharma at the pole position to quell the bilateral challenges against South Africa and New Zealand at home.
But light seems to have gone out of Abhishek's batting after a stomach infection.
A combination of dull pitches and off-spinners, who took the ball away from his hitting arc, has reduced the left-hander's firepower.
He is certainly a better batter than his current numbers -- 15 runs from four matches at an average of 3.75 made at a strike-rate of 75.
However, the real question is can he set aside the desire to play his natural game, and grind some runs against his name?
It may not look flashy, but one needs to look ugly, at times, to win.
The changes that England skipper Harry Brook, a batter in Abhishek's mould, made to adapt to the decks got him a match-winning hundred last night in Pallekele.
Watching him will perhaps give the Indian opener an example to follow.
Playing spin was never Brook's forte, but the Yorkshire man sunk Pakistan's spin armada at Pallekele, superbly pacing himself between defence and aggression.
Tilak Varma too needs a course correction, but of a different nature.
One can argue that Abhishek's lean patch has necessitated Tilak to play a more supportive role to Kishan, who continues to impress with a strike-rate of 193 amid the top-order ruins around him.
But even then, a strike-rate of 118 is too less for a batter playing in the Power Play segment as per the modern T20 template.
He generally strikes around 141 in T20Is.
Suryakumar Yadav has 180 runs but those have come at 127, way less than his T20I career strike-rate of 161.
It has left Kishan with the job of doing all the heavy-lifting by himself.
Had it not been for the acceleration given by Shivam Dube and Hardik Pandya, India would have struggled to reach par totals in a couple of matches at least.
Should Samson be back?
The opposition teams have cleverly fielded off-spinners in the Power Play against the three left-handed batters -- Kishan, Abhishek and Tilak -- to reduce their scoring opportunities.
The inclusion of Sanju Samson, a right-hander, in top three can be a quick fix, but the Kerala batter himself is not in the pink of form.
So, the effect of adding another struggling batter to an already difficult space is debatable.
In that context, the team think-tank can ponder over giving a promotion to Suryakumar at No. 3, and push Tilak down to No. 4 to break the sequence of left-handers at the top.
But the management can take heart from the fact that Chepauk might offer them the best surface yet in this tournament.
It is the same track that was used in the match between Afghanistan and New Zealand albeit in an 11am game.
On that occasion, New Zealand quite comfortably chased down a 180-plus target set by the Afghans.
What might work for India is the fact that Zimbabwe's spin attack of Graeme Cremer, Sikandar Raza and Ryan Burl is not as potent as some others that the co-hosts have faced thus far in the tournament.
But their towering quicks, Blessing Muzarabani, Richard Ngarava and the pacy Brad Evans, are quite capable of asking a few tough questions to the batters on their day.
On the bowling front, India have little to worry about despite a fumble that allowed the Proteas to reach 187 for seven after struggling at 20 for three.
Jasprit Bumrah is as brilliant as he has ever been, and in the company of Varun Chakravarthy, Arshdeep Singh and Hardik Pandya, he should be able to blunt a relatively less experienced Zimbabwe batting unit.
Adding teeth to India's attack, left-arm spinner and vice-captain Axar Patel, who was benched against South Africa, is poised to make a return for this match.
Squads:
India: Suryakumar Yadav (c), Abhishek Sharma, Tilak Varma, Sanju Samson, Shivam Dube, Ishan Kishan, Hardik Pandya, Arshdeep Singh, Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Siraj, Varun Chakaravarthy, Kuldeep Yadav, Axar Patel, Washington Sundar, Rinku Singh.
Zimbabwe: Sikandar Raza (c), Brian Bennett, Ryan Burl, Graeme Cremer, Bradley Evans, Clive Madande, Tinotenda Maposa, Tadiwanashe Marumani, Wellington Masakadza, Tony Munyonga, Tashinga Musekiwa, Blessing Muzarabani, Dion Myers, Richard Ngarava, Ben Curran.
Match starts at 7 pm.

Jammu and Kashmir reached 527 for six in the Ranji Trophy final against Karnataka, but Paras Dogra’s half-century was overshadowed by a head-butting incident involving substitute KV Aneesh.

Ranji Trophy Final: Jammu and Kashmir tighten grip with 527/6 vs Karnataka on Day 2

Jammu and Kashmir reached 527 for six in the Ranji Trophy final against Karnataka, but Paras Dogra&rsquo;s half-century was overshadowed by a head-butting incident involving substitute KV Aneesh.

Skipper Paras Dogra made a gutsy 70 but his intentional head-butting of Karnataka substitute KV Aneesh overshadowed an otherwise solid batting performance from Jammu and Kashmir, who reached 527 for 6 at stumps on the second day of the Ranji Trophy final.
Dogra along with keeper batter Kanhaiya Wadhawan (70), Sahil Lotra (57 batting) all made handsome contributions as it became a real toil for the Karnataka bowlers save Prasidh Krishna (3/90 in 29 overs) didn't make much of an impact.
However it was 21-season Ranji vetreran Dogra's boorish behaviour that surprised one and all as he was captured on camera head-butting the silly point fielder Aneesh after getting a streaky boundary when Prasidh had literally squared him up.
It wasn't clear if any of Aneesh's words would have hurt the domestic legend, who confronted Aneesh and butted on Aneesh's helmet prompting his senior teammate Mayank Agarwal to interject and stand between the two.
An animated Agarwal was seen exchanging words with Dogra as on-field umpires Rohan Pandit and Ulhas Gandhe rightly intervened.
After some point, even Karnataka skipper Devdutt Padikkal was seen talking to the umpires, complaining about Dogra.
Since was been an altercation that involved touching of opponents, Dogra should face some sanctions from BCCI match referee Narayan Kutty.
The day started off well for Karnataka as overnight centurion Shubham Pundir (121 off 247 balls) was quickly dismissed.
A flick from southpaw Pundir off medium pacer Vidyadhar Patil (1/104) went straight into substitute Aneesh's hands, ending a fine 124 run-stand.
Pundir's innings had 12 fours and two sixes.
Abdul Samad (61), who also had smashed his way to a half-century on opening day, got one from Prasidh that just moved enough from length to take the outside edge.
At 307 for 4, just when Karnataka smelt an opening, veteran Dogra and J&amp;K's find of the season Wadhawan got together to add 110 runs in 32 overs.
Prasidh, who was spitting fire with semi-new ball and was bowling quick was hit for some streaky boundaries behind square by Dogra and Wadhawan who found extra pace too hot to handle.
However they showed a lot of temperament in not giving away the wicket to the Indian Test pacer.
They didn't score runs at a breakneck pace but once leg-spinner Shreyas Gopal (1/130 in 33 overs) and left-arm spinner Shikhar Shetty (1/112 in 32 overs) were in operation, the duo didn't have problems farming the strike.
While Dogra's 166 ball knock had eight fours, Wadhawan's 109-ball knock comprised of nine hits to the fence.
Once Wadhawan was caught by KL Rahul in the slips off Shetty, Dogra added another 54 with Lotra who also helped himself to a half-ton.
With four overs left for the third new bal, Karnataka bowlers would like to keep the total below 600 and expect its batting line-up filled with former and current Test stars to do the job for them in a game of an innings each.
Brief Scores: Jammu and Kashmir 527/6 in 156 overs (Shubham Pundir 121, Yawer Hassan 88, Paras Dogra 70, Kanhaiya Wadhawan 70, Sahil Lotra 54 batting, Prasidh Krishna 3/90) vs Karnataka.

LSG have introduced a new team logo ahead of IPL 2026, saying the redesigned emblem reflects the spirit of Lucknow and Uttar Pradesh. Featuring Garuda, the Crown and the Elephant, the franchise described the symbol as a tribute to fan.

Lucknow Super Giants unveil new logo ahead of IPL 2026 season

LSG have introduced a new team logo ahead of IPL 2026, saying the redesigned emblem reflects the spirit of Lucknow and Uttar Pradesh. Featuring Garuda, the Crown and the Elephant, the franchise described the symbol as a tribute to fan.

Ahead of the upcoming Indian Premier League season, Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) have introduced a new team logo, describing it as more than just a visual redesign.
In an official statement, the franchise said the emblem reflects the spirit of the city and the state, along with the unwavering support of its fans since inception. The new design combines three symbols &mdash; Garuda, the Crown and the Elephant &mdash; each representing elements closely associated with Uttar Pradesh.
"Today, Lucknow Super Giants unveil a new logo. Not just a new design. Not just a new look. But a symbol that carries the spirit of this city, this state, and every fan who has stood by the team from the very beginning. This new emblem brings together three powerful symbols, Garuda, the Crown, and the Elephant, each telling a story that feels deeply personal to Lucknow and Uttar Pradesh," the franchise said in its statement.
&nbsp;
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
Junoon hai, Toofan hai. Lucknow Super Giants ki ye ek nayi udaan hai 💙❤️ <a href="https://t.co/xaLnnnZcwr">pic.twitter.com/xaLnnnZcwr</a>
&mdash; Lucknow Super Giants (@LucknowIPL) <a href="https://twitter.com/LucknowIPL/status/2026258672406675921?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 24, 2026</a></blockquote>
&nbsp;
&nbsp;
Elaborating on the meaning behind the elements, LSG stated, "Garuda represents courage. The courage to rise, to take on challenges, and to never back down. It reflects the fearless cricket the Super Giants strive to play and the belief that no dream is too big when you rise together. The Crown stands for pride and responsibility. Every time the team walks onto the field, it carries the hopes of millions. The Crown is a reminder that wearing this jersey is an honour and that honour must be earned every single day. At the heart of the logo stands the Elephant. The Elephant represents strength, wisdom, patience, and unity. It reflects the steady support of the fans, the kind of loyalty that does not waver with one result but stands strong season after season."
Sharing his views on the new identity, Shashwat Goenka, Owner of Lucknow Super Giants and Vice Chairman of RPSG Group, said, "This new logo is deeply emotional for us. The people of Lucknow and Uttar Pradesh welcomed the Super Giants into their hearts from day one. This symbol is a tribute to that love and belief. Garuda reflects our dreams to rise higher. The Crown reflects the pride you place on us every time we take the field. And the Elephant reflects the strength and loyalty that defines this region."
"This is not just a change in identity. It is a promise. A promise that we will honour this city, respect our roots, and compete with heart. Every run, every wicket, every moment will carry the emotion of our fans," he added.
 Lucknow Super Giants squad for IPL 2026:
Aiden Markram, Mitchell Marsh, Nicholas Pooran, Rishabh Pant (c &amp; wk), Ayush Badoni, Abdul Samad, Avesh Khan, Mohammed Shami, Mayank Yadav, Digvesh Rathi, Akash Singh, Arjun Tendulkar, Arshin Kulkarni, Himmat Singh, M Siddharth, Matthew Breetzke, Mohsin Khan, Prince Yadav, Shahbaz Ahmed, Josh Inglis (Rs 8.5 Crore), Mukul Choudhary (Rs 2.6 Crore), Akshat Raghuwanshi (Rs 2.2 Crore), Wanindu Hasaranga (Rs 2 Crore), Anrich Nortje (Rs 2 Crore), Naman Tiwari (Rs 1 Crore).

Lionel Messi ended his 21-year international career with a goal and an assist as Argentina beat Benin 3-0 in Buenos Aires. The 39-year-old made his 208th international appearance.

Emotion, tears as Messi retires from Argentina national team

Lionel Messi ended his 21-year international career with a goal and an assist as Argentina beat Benin 3-0 in Buenos Aires. The 39-year-old made his 208th international appearance.

Lionel Messi brought the curtain down on his 21-year international career on Tuesday, bidding farewell to adoring Argentina fans in an emotional final appearance for the former world champions in Buenos Aires.
In a perfectly scripted finale, the 39-year-old widely regarded as the greatest football player in history signed off with his 126th international goal in front of 85,000 supporters as Argentina cruised to a 3-0 victory over Benin.
Messi, playing in his record-extending 208th international, also provided the assist for the opening goal scored by veteran Nicolas Otamendi, with Nico Paz also scoring.
But the match was a footnote to the occasion itself, which saw Messi savoring the adulation of the Monumental Stadium crowd one last time for an event which had been billed as 'The Last Tango'.
"It was a huge source of pride for me to defend this jersey for more than 20 years," Messi told fans in a post-match address.
"Not coming anymore is going to be deeply painful. I swear I'd like to play for the rest of my life, because playing for the Argentina national team is the most beautiful thing that can happen to you."
Messi though said he had no regrets about his decision to retire, citing Argentina's grueling World Cup campaign, which took place as his late father was seriously ill, as a factor.
"Even though I want to be here all my life, I feel that this is the moment. The last World Cup was too much, everything I had to live through," said Messi.
Beforehand, Messi wiped away tears as the bus carrying him and his Argentina team-mates made its way through crowds of wellwishers en route to the stadium.
Messi took the field alongside his three children and received affectionate waves from his wife, Antonela Roccuzzo, and his mother, Celia Cuccittini, who were watching from a VIP box.
Shortly before kick off, a giant Argentina jersey bearing the word "Gracias" (Thank You) above the football superstar's No.10 was laid out on the pitch as the crowd roared their approval.
Messi welled up again as Falklands War veteran Fabio Santana sang the national anthem beside a banner which read -- "The Malvinas are Argentine" -- the same banner held aloft by players after their 2-1 World Cup semi-final win over England.
The match was halted in the 10th minute -- in tribute to Messi's famous shirt number -- for a minute-long ovation to the former Barcelona and Paris Saint-Germain star.
He crowned the occasion with a goal from the penalty spot in the 71st minute.
 - 'Gave it my all' -
At the final whistle a drone show lit up the night sky above the stadium, showing Messi's image and thanking the eight-time Ballon D'Or-winner for his career.
Messi's farewell came two and a half months after Argentina's World Cup final defeat to Spain in New Jersey, where Messi exited in tears after making little impression in an ill-tempered 1-0 loss.
"I gave it my all; I have nothing left to give, and besides, there are great young players coming up who deserve their chance," Messi wrote at the time.
Before Tuesday's game, the University of Buenos Aires awarded Messi an honorary doctorate in a ceremony at the Argentine Football Association (AFA) headquarters.
Messi, who has in the past spoken of his regret at not studying more, expressed pride at the distinction.
"To be able to say that I am an honorary doctor!," he joked.
Outside the Argentina Football Association headquarters, fans unfurled a huge Argentine flag with his image inscribed "The joy of my life."
Former Barcelona team-mate Neymar paid tribute to the departing champion on X.
"It's not just Argentina that thanks you, the world thanks you for everything you did for football. Thank you for making me love football even more," he said.
Messi remains under contract with Inter Miami until 2028, although following the death of his father, Jorge, two months ago, he revealed he may hang up his boots for good sooner than anticipated.
Messi's departure comes four years after his greatest triumph in international football, leading Argentina to victory at the 2022 World Cup to end the country's 36-year wait for a third title, cementing his status as Diego Maradona's heir.
"I believe Messi gave everything, absolutely everything, so it doesn't bother me at all that he's leaving. He has more than earned it, let him enjoy himself, let him rest," Cecilia Adriano, 52, told AFP.
During his time with the Albiceleste, Argentina won one World Cup, were runners-up twice (Brazil 2014 and North America 2026) and were also crowned Copa America champions in 2021 and 2024.

Sports

Harmanpreet Kaur has stepped down as captain of the Indian women’s cricket team with immediate effect, ending a leadership tenure that included India’s maiden Women’s Cricket World Cup title and a record 155 T20I matches as captain.

Harmanpreet Kaur steps down as India captain with immediate effect

Harmanpreet Kaur has stepped down as captain of the Indian women&rsquo;s cricket team with immediate effect, ending a leadership tenure that included India&rsquo;s maiden Women&rsquo;s Cricket World Cup title and a record 155 T20I matches as captain.

Harmanpreet Kaur has stepped down as captain of the Indian women&rsquo;s cricket team with immediate effect, ending a leadership stint that spanned a decade and included some of the biggest milestones in the history of Indian women&rsquo;s cricket.
The 37-year-old took over India&rsquo;s T20I captaincy in 2016 before becoming the full-time captain across ODIs and Tests in 2022, following Mithali Raj&rsquo;s retirement. She now leaves the position having achieved a feat shared by only a handful of Indian captains.
The biggest highlight of Kaur&rsquo;s captaincy came in November last year, when she led India to their first-ever ICC Women&rsquo;s Cricket World Cup title on home soil. The victory made her only the third Indian captain, after Kapil Dev and MS Dhoni, to win a 50-over World Cup.
Her World Cup triumph also put her in an even more exclusive group of Indian captains to have won a World Cup. She is one of only five, alongside Rohit Sharma and Suryakumar Yadav, who captained India to T20 World Cup titles in 2024 and 2026, respectively.
Kaur&rsquo;s record in T20Is further underlines the scale of her captaincy career. Under her leadership, India reached the semi-finals of the 2018 and 2023 ICC Women&rsquo;s T20 World Cups and made the final in 2020, where they finished runners-up.
She also established a record that extended beyond Indian cricket. Kaur captained India in 155 T20Is, becoming the first captain in international cricket, male or female, to lead a team in more than 150 matches in the format.
Her final tournament as captain ended with another gold medal for India. The team secured a second consecutive Asian Games gold, following its title-winning campaign in 2023.
Across her captaincy career, Kaur led India in five Tests and 51 ODIs, in addition to her record 155 T20Is.
One of her other notable achievements came at the 2022 Commonwealth Games in Birmingham, where India won the silver medal. Kaur scored 65 runs in the final against Australia, although her effort was not enough to prevent Australia from claiming the gold.
Kaur&rsquo;s tenure coincided with a period in which Indian women&rsquo;s cricket continued to expand its reach and ambitions, with the team producing several significant performances on the international stage.
Her biggest legacy will remain India&rsquo;s maiden Women&rsquo;s Cricket World Cup title, which came under her leadership on home soil. She also became a two-time Asian Games gold-medal-winning captain and guided India through multiple deep runs in T20 World Cups while setting a record for captaincy appearances in the format.
From taking charge of India&rsquo;s T20I side in 2016 to lifting the World Cup trophy nearly a decade later, Harmanpreet Kaur leaves the captaincy with a record defined by longevity, landmark victories and a historic World Cup triumph.

India and West Indies have been fined 20 per cent and 10 per cent of their match fees respectively for maintaining slow over-rates during the third ODI in New Chandigarh.

India, West Indies fined for slow over-rates in third ODI

India and West Indies have been fined 20 per cent and 10 per cent of their match fees respectively for maintaining slow over-rates during the third ODI in New Chandigarh.

India and West Indies have been fined for maintaining slow over-rates during the third and final ODI of their series in New Chandigarh on Saturday.
India were fined 20 per cent of their match fee, while West Indies were penalised 10 per cent after falling four and two overs short of their required over-rates, respectively, after time allowances were taken into consideration, according to the ICC website.
Prakash Bhatt of the Emirates ICC International Panel of Match Referees imposed the sanctions. Both captains pleaded guilty to the offences and accepted the proposed sanctions, meaning formal hearings were not required.
The charges were brought by on-field umpires Jayaraman Madanagopal and Sam Nogajski, third umpire Sharfuddoula Ibne Shahid and fourth umpire Virender Sharma.
West Indies had already lost the three-match series 2-0 before entering the final ODI but finished the ODI leg of their India tour on a historic note in New Chandigarh.
Powered by an unbeaten 162 from Shai Hope, West Indies successfully chased down 352 to record their highest successful run chase in men's ODIs.
The two teams will now turn their attention to the five-match T20I series, which begins on 6 October.

Sunil Kumar won bronze in Greco-Roman 87kg wrestling at Asian Games 2026, becoming India’s first wrestling medallist at the Games. India also won gold in trap mixed team shooting and women’s compound archery.

Asian Games 2026: Sunil Kumar Wins Wrestling Bronze, India’s Medal Tally Gets Boost

Sunil Kumar won bronze in Greco-Roman 87kg wrestling at Asian Games 2026, becoming India&rsquo;s first wrestling medallist at the Games. India also won gold in trap mixed team shooting and women&rsquo;s compound archery.

Indian wrestler Sunil Kumar won the bronze medal in the men&rsquo;s Greco-Roman 87kg category at the Asian Games 2026 on Wednesday, becoming India&rsquo;s first wrestling medallist at the continental event.
Sunil defeated the Philippines&rsquo; Callum Johnston Roberts 9-0 by technical superiority to secure the bronze medal. He maintained control throughout the bout and did not allow Roberts to score a point, continuing to add to his tally before sealing the victory.
The medal also made Sunil the first Indian to win two Greco-Roman medals at the Asian Games.
Earlier on Wednesday, India secured gold in the mixed trap team shooting event through Neeru Dhanda and Kynan Chenai at the ongoing Asian Games in Aichi-Nagoya. The duo also set a new Games record.
Neeru and Kynan scored 34, surpassing the Asian Games record of 30 set by Qatar earlier this year. Qatar won silver with 32 points, while China secured bronze with 23.
Neeru had earlier won the women&rsquo;s trap individual gold. The mixed trap team gold marked India&rsquo;s first-ever gold medal in the Trap Mixed Team event.
India also secured gold in the women&rsquo;s compound archery team event. The Indian team of Jyothi Vennam, Chikitha Taniparthi and Prithika Pradeep defeated China 238-234 in the final.
With the score, the Indian team equalled South Korea&rsquo;s world record of 238, set in 2014, to claim the gold medal.

India's women's 4x400m relay team of Kiran, Machettira Poovamma, Prachi and Vithya Ramraj won gold at the Asian Games 2026, clocking 3:29.69 to secure India's first athletics gold of the Games.

India win first athletics gold at Asian Games 2026 as women's 4x400m relay team triumphs

India's women's 4x400m relay team of Kiran, Machettira Poovamma, Prachi and Vithya Ramraj won gold at the Asian Games 2026, clocking 3:29.69 to secure India's first athletics gold of the Games.

India won its first athletics gold medal at the Asian Games 2026 after the women's 4x400m relay team clinched the top spot in the final on Tuesday.
The Indian quartet of Kiran, Machettira Poovamma, Prachi and Vithya Ramraj clocked 3:29.69 to win gold. Bahrain finished second with 3:30.21 to secure silver, while China claimed bronze in 3:31.02.
Vithya Ramraj, who had earlier won bronze in the women's 400m hurdles, added a gold medal to her Aichi-Nagoya campaign with the relay victory.
India won eight medals across shooting, athletics and boxing on Day 10 of the Asian Games 2026 in Aichi-Nagoya on Tuesday. The tally included two gold, one silver and five bronze medals.
The women's 4x400m relay team's victory marked India's second gold medal of the day and its first athletics gold at the Games.
Earlier on Tuesday, Neeru Dhanda became the first Indian woman to win an individual medal in the women's trap event at the Asian Games, claiming gold in the final.
Neeru scored 28/30 to finish on top of the podium. China's Sun Yunong won silver with 26/30, while the UAE's Hajar Abdulmalik secured bronze with 21/25. Neeru's victory also gave India its second gold medal in shooting at the 2026 Asian Games.
India's women's trap team, comprising Neeru Dhanda, Aashima Ahlawat and Manisha Keer, also won silver in the team event.
In athletics, Gulveer Singh secured his third medal at the Asian Games 2026 with bronze in the men's 5000m, clocking 13:32.75.
India's mixed 4x100m relay team of Gurindervir Singh, Sneha Sathyanarayan, Animesh Kujur and Harita Bhadra finished third with a timing of 41.06 seconds. Pooja also won bronze in the women's high jump with a best clearance of 1.84m.
In boxing, Narender Berwal secured his second consecutive Asian Games bronze medal in the men's +90kg category after losing his semifinal bout.

Gulveer Singh won bronze in the men's 5000m at the Asian Games 2026, clocking 13:32.75 to claim his third individual medal at the Games. He became the first Indian man to win three individual medals at a single Asian Games edition.

Gulveer Singh wins 5000m bronze, becomes first Indian man to win three individual medals at Asian Games

Gulveer Singh won bronze in the men's 5000m at the Asian Games 2026, clocking 13:32.75 to claim his third individual medal at the Games. He became the first Indian man to win three individual medals at a single Asian Games edition.

Indian athlete Gulveer Singh won the bronze medal in the men's 5000m event at the Asian Games 2026 in Aichi-Nagoya on Tuesday, securing his third medal at the continental event. With the achievement, Gulveer became the first Indian man to win three individual medals at a single Asian Games.
Gulveer clocked 13:32.75 to finish third in the race. Bahrain's Birhanu Balew won gold with a time of 13:30.79, while Japan's Tomonori Yamaguchi secured silver after finishing in 13:31.43.
The bronze in the 5000m completed Gulveer's hat-trick of medals at the Games. He had earlier won silver medals in the men's 10,000m and 1500m events.
Gulveer's bronze marked India's fourth medal at the Asian Games 2026 on Tuesday. Avinash Sable, who was initially entered for the event, did not take part.
Earlier on Tuesday, Neeru Dhanda won gold in the women's trap event, becoming the first Indian woman to win an individual medal in the event at the Asian Games.
Neeru scored 28/30 in the final to claim gold. China's Sun Yunong secured silver with 26/30, while Hajar Abdulmalik of the UAE won bronze with 21/25. Neeru's victory also gave India its second gold medal in shooting at the 2026 Asian Games.
The Indian women's trap team, comprising Neeru Dhanda, Aashima Ahlawat and Manisha Keer, won silver with a total score of 328 points. China claimed gold with 346 points, while Kuwait secured bronze, finishing three points behind India.
Meanwhile, Narender Berwal won his second consecutive Asian Games bronze medal in the men's +90kg category. He lost his semifinal bout to reigning world champion Aibek Oralbay of Kazakhstan by a 0-5 scoreline.

India's Vithya Ramraj won bronze in the women's 400m hurdles at the Asian Games 2026 with a personal best of 54.75 seconds, breaking PT Usha's 42-year-old national record of 55.42 seconds. India’s medal tally rose to 40.

Asian Games 2026: Vithya Ramraj Wins Bronze In 400m Hurdles, Breaks PT Usha’s 42-Year National Record

India's Vithya Ramraj won bronze in the women's 400m hurdles at the Asian Games 2026 with a personal best of 54.75 seconds, breaking PT Usha's 42-year-old national record of 55.42 seconds. India&rsquo;s medal tally rose to 40.

Vithya Ramraj rewrote India's athletics record books on Monday, claiming bronze in the women's 400m hurdles at the Asian Games 2026 in Aichi-Nagoya with a personal best of 54.75 seconds.
The Indian hurdler's podium finish came alongside a historic milestone as she erased the 55.42-second national record set by PT Usha at the 1984 Los Angeles Olympics. Usha's mark had remained unbeaten for 42 years.
Vithya had previously matched the legendary athlete's timing in 2023. However, her latest performance took her past the long-standing benchmark, making her the new national record holder in the event.
According to the Athletics Federation of India (AFI), Vithya cleared all 10 hurdles during the final to secure third place and add another medal to India's athletics campaign.
The gold medal went to UAE's Mariam Kareem, who clocked 54.31 seconds to establish a new Games record. Kazakhstan's Adelina Zems finished second in 54.58 seconds to take silver.
Vithya's record-breaking run also saw her improve on her previous personal best, completing a significant breakthrough in her international career.
India's other finalist, Anu Raghavan, recorded a personal best of 55.88 seconds to finish fifth in the women's 400m hurdles.
Following the event, India's overall medal count reached 40, including four gold, 17 silver and 19 bronze medals. The country was placed 12th in the Asian Games 2026 medal standings.

Ahead of India's home series against West Indies, head coach Gautam Gambhir reflected on his two-year tenure, acknowledging successes and failures across formats. He also praised Rohit Sharma, Suryakumar Yadav, Shubman Gill and Shreyas Iyer.

Gambhir reflects on two-year tenure, shares experience working with four India captains

Ahead of India's home series against West Indies, head coach Gautam Gambhir reflected on his two-year tenure, acknowledging successes and failures across formats. He also praised Rohit Sharma, Suryakumar Yadav, Shubman Gill and Shreyas Iyer.

As Team India prepares to begin a blockbuster home season with three ODIs and five T20Is against the West Indies, head coach Gautam Gambhir reflected on his two-year tenure, acknowledging the successes and failures across Test, ODI and T20 cricket.
Gambhir described his stint as a period of ups and downs, saying he accepts both achievements and setbacks as part of the responsibility of leading the Indian team.
The India-West Indies 2026 white-ball series will begin on September 27, featuring three ODIs and five T20Is across venues in India. Shubman Gill will captain India in the ODI series, while Shreyas Iyer will lead the T20I side. Shai Hope will captain the West Indies.
"The two years didn't pass in the blink of an eye. I think I've had my own share of ups and downs. I've had my own failures and successes. But again, I've always believed that when you take up that kind of responsibility, there will always be ups and downs. So, whether it was Test cricket, whether it is one-day cricket or T20 cricket, yes, I've had success, which obviously I will always cherish, but I've had my share of failures as well. Which, again, I accept with both hands," Gambhir said on JioStar.
Gambhir on his evolving relationship with Rohit Sharma
Gambhir also spoke about how his working relationship with former India captain Rohit Sharma has evolved over the years, highlighting that their association goes beyond their roles as coach and captain.
Recalling their time as teammates, Gambhir said their familiarity and mutual understanding have made it easier to work together. He added that despite differences in opinions, their decisions are ultimately guided by what is best for Indian cricket.
"Rohit and my relationship wasn't just of captain and coach. When Rohit came into the team, I was a senior player at that time, so Rohit and my relationship is from back then. Rohit has known me since then. So, often when you have played together, things become very easy. And in fact, he knows my thinking; I know his thinking. Because tomorrow I might have some other thinking, the captain might have some other thinking, but ultimately, whatever is in the best interest of the team, if that's the final decision, then nothing can be better than that. And that's why I said that with all four captains I have worked with, this has been my experience with them, that everyone's focus has been Indian cricket," he added.
Gambhir praises team-first approach of four captains
The India head coach praised the team-first approach of the four captains he has worked with &mdash; Rohit Sharma, Suryakumar Yadav, Shubman Gill and Shreyas Iyer.
Gambhir said their playing styles, perspectives and approaches to the game may differ, but their commitment to putting the team ahead of individual interests has made his role easier.
He also recalled working with Iyer during their time at Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) and said he had recognised the batter's leadership qualities when he handed over the Delhi captaincy to him in 2018.
&ldquo;I have worked with four captains, Rohit, Surya, now with Shubman and Shreyas. All the captains I&rsquo;ve worked with, everyone&rsquo;s first intention has always been team first. And I am very fortunate that I have worked with four such people who have always put the team ahead of themselves. Ideology can change, your thinking can change, your perspective on reading the game can change, but as long as your intention is right, it makes life a lot easier for any support staff. It started with Rohit, and when Surya became captain for T20, it was a different experience with both of them. With Shreyas, I had worked with him in KKR. Before that, when I handed over my captaincy to Shreyas in 2018 for Delhi, I felt that he had that leadership quality. Now, I have got the opportunity to work with him again. With Shubman, he is young. If you get captaincy on a tour of England, that too in five Test matches, and if you push someone into the deep sea, either you will swim out really well or you will drown. But the way Shubman has handled Test cricket, it has been brilliant, and I think we will see the best of Shubman in the coming years," he concluded.
Gambhir backs Shubman Gill for future success
Gambhir also lauded Gill's handling of the Test captaincy, particularly during the challenging five-match series in England.
The head coach praised the young skipper's leadership under pressure, expressing confidence that Gill would continue to improve and achieve greater success in the coming years.
Gambhir said Gill's performance in England demonstrated his ability to handle the responsibilities of leading India in Test cricket, adding that he expects to see the best of the young captain in the years ahead.

Cricket

The Bangladesh Cricket Board is hopeful India will tour Bangladesh for a six-match white-ball series early next year. The proposed tour includes three ODIs and three T20Is, with the BCB and BCCI currently discussing the schedule.

BCB Hopeful Of India’s Bangladesh Tour Early Next Year After Talks

The Bangladesh Cricket Board is hopeful India will tour Bangladesh for a six-match white-ball series early next year. The proposed tour includes three ODIs and three T20Is, with the BCB and BCCI currently discussing the schedule.

The Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) is hopeful that India will travel to Bangladesh for a six-match white-ball series during the 2026-27 season, according to Cricinfo.
The proposed tour features three ODIs and three T20Is, with the two cricket boards currently discussing a possible window for the series.
BCB president Tamim Iqbal said on Monday that talks with the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) have been positive so far.
"All I can tell you is that both the cricket boards are in discussion. It is a fruitful talk, and I am hopeful this will happen," he said, as quoted by Cricinfo.
According to a Cricinfo report, the BCB has received an encouraging response from the BCCI, raising the possibility of the tour taking place early next year.
A BCCI source had earlier indicated that January could be considered for the series, although discussions with the Bangladesh government are still underway.
"The India-Bangladesh series is likely to be held in January. Discussions with the government are still ongoing, while the BCB is now seeking a window at the beginning of next year," the BCCI source told ANI.
The series was initially scheduled for August 2025 but was later pushed back to September 2026.
In January this year, the BCB announced that India would play three ODIs and three T20Is across Dhaka and Chattogram.
However, the September 2026 window was subsequently postponed following a deterioration in relations between the two cricket boards.
The BCCI has not yet made an official announcement confirming a new schedule for the tour.
Relations Between BCCI And BCB Had Tense Phase
The relationship between the two boards became strained after Kolkata Knight Riders released Bangladesh all-rounder Mustafizur Rahman from their Indian Premier League (IPL) squad following the BCB's announcement of the India series.
The dispute escalated further when the Aminul Islam-led BCB decided against sending Bangladesh to the T20 World Cup, which was co-hosted by India.
However, relations have appeared to improve since Tamim Iqbal became BCB president.
Earlier this month, Tamim travelled to India and reportedly visited the BCCI Centre of Excellence in Bengaluru.
His visit was seen as another indication that the relationship between the two boards could be improving.
With discussions now underway, the proposed six-match series could potentially return to the international calendar in early 2027.

Pakistan pacer Mohammad Abbas admitted the team is concerned about its poor Test performances after a heavy 194-run defeat to England at Lord’s. Pakistan have now lost 10 of their last 11 away Tests.

Mohammad Abbas Admits Pakistan’s Test Struggles After Lord’s Defeat

Pakistan pacer Mohammad Abbas admitted the team is concerned about its poor Test performances after a heavy 194-run defeat to England at Lord&rsquo;s. Pakistan have now lost 10 of their last 11 away Tests.

Pakistan pacer Mohammed Abbas has acknowledged that the team is going through a difficult phase in Test cricket after their heavy defeat to England at Lord&rsquo;s.
Pakistan suffered a 194-run loss in the second Test, extending their poor away record to 10 defeats in their last 11 Tests outside home conditions.
The result followed their innings defeat in the series opener at Leeds, leaving Pakistan at the bottom of the ICC World Test Championship standings.
Abbas said the players and management are fully aware of the problems affecting the team and stressed that improvements are needed across all three departments.
"Our performance is a concern for everyone. Everyone is worried, including selection committee and the NCA. We are not doing well, we accept that. We are not batting, bowling or fielding well and we discuss this all the time in meetings. We are all working on it, and we need to be, too," he said, as quoted by ICC.
Pakistan's fielding was another area highlighted by Abbas following the defeat.
The pacer felt missed opportunities allowed England's key batters to add crucial runs and shift the momentum of the match.
"We dropped catches, and their key players scored 70-odd extra runs. That is where the match changed because we could have bowled them out for 200. It is disappointing," he added.
Despite Pakistan's struggles, Abbas enjoyed an impressive individual outing at Lord&rsquo;s.
He claimed nine wickets in the Test and registered his first five-wicket haul at the iconic venue.
However, the veteran seamer said individual success mattered less to him when the team continued to struggle for victories.
"Individual performances are important, but I try to perform to help the team win. It has been many matches that I have been performing, but the team has not won," he said.
Abbas also pointed to the relative inexperience within Pakistan's bowling attack as another challenge.
He noted that the combination had changed across recent series and suggested that greater exposure to different conditions would be valuable for the younger bowlers.
"In Bangladesh, we had a different bowling combination to here. We won a Test in the West Indies. The guys are adjusting, but experience is very important in Test cricket," he said.
Mohammad Ali, who has played eight Tests, and Khurram Shahzad, who has featured in 10, have considerable domestic experience but are still relatively new to international cricket.
Abbas himself has played 32 Tests and acknowledged the difference in experience between him and the younger fast bowlers around him.
"I have played 32 Test matches, but the fast bowlers playing with me are very new to Test cricket. But everybody is trying to improve."
Pakistan will now look to end their difficult run with a consolation victory in the series.
The third Test against England is scheduled to begin at Edgbaston on September 9, with crucial World Test Championship points also at stake.

Vaibhav Sooryavanshi created history by becoming the youngest player to score a half-century in Duleep Trophy history. The 15-year-old reached his fifty in just 42 balls before being dismissed for 92 against Central Zone.

Vaibhav Sooryavanshi Breaks 57-Year-Old Duleep Trophy Record At 15

Vaibhav Sooryavanshi created history by becoming the youngest player to score a half-century in Duleep Trophy history. The 15-year-old reached his fifty in just 42 balls before being dismissed for 92 against Central Zone.

Vaibhav Sooryavanshi added another milestone to his rapidly growing cricket career on Monday, becoming the youngest player to score a half-century in Duleep Trophy history.
The 15-year-old achieved the feat during East Zone&rsquo;s semi-final against Central Zone at the BCCI Centre of Excellence Ground 1 in Bengaluru.
At 15 years and 157 days, Sooryavanshi reached his fifty from just 42 deliveries.
He sealed the landmark in style, hitting off-spinner Saransh Jain for a six to surpass a record that had stood for 57 years.
The previous record belonged to Laxman Singh, who scored a Duleep Trophy half-century at the age of 16 years and 23 days in the 1969 edition.
Piyush Chawla had later registered the second-youngest fifty in the competition, achieving the feat at 16 years and 307 days in 2005.
Sooryavanshi, however, fell just short of another piece of history.
He was dismissed for 92 off 81 balls, missing out on the opportunity to become the youngest player to score a Duleep Trophy century.
That record continues to belong to Sachin Tendulkar, who scored a hundred in the 1990/91 edition at 17 years and 262 days.
A century against Central Zone would also have placed Sooryavanshi second on the list of youngest Indian First-Class centurions.
The record is held by Dhruv Pandove, who scored a century for Punjab against Jammu &amp; Kashmir in the 1988-89 Ranji Trophy season at 14 years and 293 days.
Central Zone Struggle Before Rinku&rsquo;s Rescue Act
The record-breaking knock came after Central Zone were restricted to 266 in their first innings.
East Zone won the toss and chose to bowl, with their pace attack making early inroads and preventing Central Zone from building momentum.
Aryan Juyal offered some resistance with 46 runs, while captain Rajat Patidar could manage only 12.
Yash Rathod contributed 27 before Rinku Singh took charge of the innings.
Rinku struck a crucial 60 from 88 balls to help Central Zone recover from their early setbacks.
Harsh Dubey added 27 and provided Rinku with valuable support as the pair helped Central Zone move towards a respectable total.
Central Zone were eventually bowled out for 266.
Abhijit Sarkar led the East Zone bowling attack with three wickets.
Mukesh Kumar also claimed three wickets, while Mohammed Shami finished with two.
East Zone Respond Through Sooryavanshi
East Zone then began their reply positively, with Abhimanyu Easwaran and the rest of the batting lineup providing a strong response.
Sooryavanshi quickly became the centre of attention with his aggressive approach at the crease.
His 92-run innings not only put East Zone in a strong position but also ensured that the teenager's name would enter the Duleep Trophy record books.

Defending champions Royal Challengers Bengaluru will open IPL 2026 against Sunrisers Hyderabad on March 28 in Bengaluru as the BCCI released the first phase schedule amid travel disruptions linked to the West Asia conflict.

IPL first phase schedule announced amid travel concerns caused by war in West Asia

Defending champions Royal Challengers Bengaluru will open IPL 2026 against Sunrisers Hyderabad on March 28 in Bengaluru as the BCCI released the first phase schedule amid travel disruptions linked to the West Asia conflict.

Defending champions Royal Challengers Bengaluru will take on Sunrisers Hyderabad in the IPL 2026 opener in Bengaluru on March 28 as the BCCI announced the first phase of the tournament schedule amid concerns around players' travel arrangements due to the ongoing West Asia conflict.
All matches scheduled at the Chinnaswamy Stadium remain subject to clearance from the Karnataka government appointed expert committee, which is scheduled to meet on March 13 to assess venue preparedness in the wake of the deadly stampede at the stadium last season.
The BCCI announced the schedule of the first 20 games on Wednesday and will unveil the full schedule once the dates of elections in three states -- Tamil Nadu, Assam and West Bengal -- are announced.
Besides the state elections, the escalating conflict in West Asia will also be at the forefront of BCCI officials' minds.
The war has wreaked havoc to international travel with operations of major airports like Doha and Dubai being heavily restricted.
As a result of that, some of the squad members of South Africa and West Indies are yet to reach home a week after the completion of their T20 World Cup campaign.
It remains to be seen if IPL bound players of those two nations report to their respective teams in time.
"There was a substantial delay in departure of West Indies and South Africa players. It would be a tough task to get them back to India on time. Plus the airfares have gone up substantially due to the war in West Asia," a team official told PTI.
Additionally, hotels across India are facing cooking gas shortage due to the raging conflict and on Tuesday, the central government invoked Essential Commodities Act to ensure uninterrupted supply of domestic cooking gas.
Chennai Super Kings CEO Kasi Viswanthan told PTI that he is expecting his players from the West Indies and South Africa -- Akeal Hossein and Dewald Brevis, to join the team well before their IPL opener.
"We are expecting no delays from their end," he said.
The second game of the opening weekend will see Mumbai Indians host Kolkata Knight Riders at the Wankhede Stadium and the opening weekend will not feature any double-headers.
A total of 20 matches will be played across 10 venues: Bengaluru, Mumbai, Guwahati, New Chandigarh, Lucknow, Kolkata, Chennai, Delhi, Ahmedabad and Hyderabad.
"During the season, Royal Challengers Bengaluru will play five home matches in Bengaluru and two in Raipur.
Punjab Kings will play four home matches in New Chandigarh and three in Dharamshala, while Rajasthan Royals will play three home matches in Guwahati and four in Jaipur," said the BCCI in a statement.
"During this period (the first 16 days), the tournament will feature four double-headers, with the afternoon matches beginning at 03:30 PM IST and the evening matches commencing at 07:30 PM IST.
"Following the opening encounter on Saturday, Mumbai Indians will take on Kolkata Knight Riders at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai on Sunday.
"The matches scheduled in Bengaluru are subject to clearance from the Expert Committee constituted by the Government of Karnataka," the BCCI added.

Indian cricketer Rinku Singh’s father, Khanchand Singh, passed away at a hospital in Greater Noida after battling advanced-stage liver cancer. He was on ventilator support in his final days.

Rinku Singh’s father Khanchand Singh passes away after battling stage 4 liver cancer

Indian cricketer Rinku Singh&rsquo;s father, Khanchand Singh, passed away at a hospital in Greater Noida after battling advanced-stage liver cancer. He was on ventilator support in his final days.

Indian cricketer Rinku Singh's father, Khanchand Singh, passed away at a hospital in Greater Noida early Friday after a prolonged illness, family sources and hospital officials said.
Dr. Sunil Kumar, spokesperson of Yatharth Hospital in Greater Noida, where the cricketer's father was admitted, said Khanchand Singh was battling advanced-stage liver cancer.
"His condition had deteriorated significantly in recent days, following which he had been admitted to the hospital on February 21. He was placed on ventilator support and breathed his last early this morning," Kumar said.
Former coach of Rinku, Masood Amini, told PTI Videos in Aligarh that the cricketer's father had been battling liver cancer.
"Rinku's father has passed away. He was suffering from liver cancer. For the last three to four days, he was on ventilator support. This morning we received the news of his demise," Amini said.
Part of India's T20 World Cup squad, Rinku had returned home midway through the tournament to meet his ailing father in Noida. He rejoined the team ahead of the match against Zimbabwe on February 26.
Though he did not feature in the playing XI, he was seen with the squad during the match, which India won convincingly.
The family said Khanchand Singh's last rites will be performed in Aligarh, and Rinku will attend the funeral expected later in the day.
The 28-year-old cricketer, a resident of Aligarh district in Uttar Pradesh, credits much of his success to his father. Khanchand Singh, who worked in gas cylinder distribution in Aligarh, supported his son's dream of becoming a cricketer despite facing financial hardships.
Rinku is engaged to Samajwadi Party MP Priya Saroj, and his father, despite battling a liver issue, had attended his son's engagement ceremony at a Lucknow hotel in June 2025.

Abhishek Sharma, Hardik Pandya, and Tilak Varma starred as India posted 256/4 to beat Zimbabwe by 72 runs in a Super 8 T20 World Cup clash, keeping semifinals hopes alive.

T20 World Cup: Abhishek, Hardik help India pulverise Zimbabwe by 72 runs; stay in semis race

Abhishek Sharma, Hardik Pandya, and Tilak Varma starred as India posted 256/4 to beat Zimbabwe by 72 runs in a Super 8 T20 World Cup clash, keeping semifinals hopes alive.

Abhishek Sharma rediscovered his form with a blazing fifty, Hardik Pandya bludgeoned a half-century and Tilak Varma allayed strike-rate worries in India&rsquo;s massive 72-run victory over Zimbabwe, keeping them alive in the race to the T20 World Cup semifinals in Chennai on Thursday.
Along with that ticking of several boxes in their must-win Super Eight match here, India posted an imposing 256 for four &mdash; their highest ever total in T20 World Cups, and also the highest in this edition of the ICC showpiece.
In the tournament&rsquo;s scenario, India&rsquo;s win ensured South Africa&rsquo;s (4 points) entry into the last four from Group 1, leaving the hosts and the West Indies locked in a virtual knockout match at Kolkata on March 1.&nbsp;
Both India and West Indies now have two points, going into their last group stage encounter. But all of it could not have happened without contributions from Abhishek (55, 30b, 4x4, 4x6), Pandya (50 not out, 23b, 2x4, 4x6) and Tilak Varma (44 not out, 16b, 3x4, 4x6), which shaped India's recovery from a debilitating 76-run defeat to the Proteas in the previous match.
In reply, Zimbabwe could only garner 184 for six. Opener Brian Bennett, who clobbered Shivam Dube for 26 runs in an over, offered lone resistance with an unbeaten 59-ball 97, a well conceptualised knock but destined to be a mere footnote.
Cutting back to India&rsquo;s innings each of those three aforementioned knocks carried a significance of its own, but the lead act was Abhishek.&nbsp;
Abhi-shakes off rust
Since returning from a stomach bug, the Punjab batter looked a distant shadow of his dominating self, registering three ducks in a row.But on a smooth Chepauk pitch the left-hander found his bearings, also easing the worries of the Indian team management over the sudden slump in his form.
The 25-year-old was involved in two excellent partnerships&mdash; a 48 for the opening wicket with Sanju Samson and then a 72 off 42 balls with Ishan Kishan (38) for the following wicket &mdash; that gave the hosts a strong platform.
Re-drafting Samson into the eleven was predominantly to break the sequence of left-handers at the top, but pairing him with Abhishek proved a good move eventually.
The Kerala right-hander smoked 24 off 15 balls to ease any nerves that his partner had.Once Samson departed, lofting pacer Blessing Muzarabani to Ryan Burl in the deep, Abhishek took charge of Indian innings.
He hammered Tino Maposo, Brian Bennett and Richard Ngarava for sixes as India stormed to 80 for one in the Power Play segment, their second best after the 86/1 made against Namibia in a group match.
The bat flow, feet movement and the eye-hand coordination, which were missing in this interim, and he fetched his first fifty off just 26 balls with a single off spinner Sikandar Raza. But more importantly, Abhishek looked assured against off-spin, his nemesis in previous matches, in this game, putting his feet into better use.
Abhishek&rsquo;s belligerence and the largesse of Zimbabwe fielders helped India maintain the tempo even after the Power Play, scoring 81 runs between overs seven and 14.
The tourists were also guilty of modest catching effort &mdash; dropping Kishan (26) and Suryakumar Yadav (8) However, Abhishek could not further extend his innings, skying Maposa to Raza in the deep, much to Zimbabwe&rsquo;s relief.&nbsp;
Middle-order fires, Tilak&rsquo;s SR soars
However, the relief did not last long as India&rsquo;s middle-order batters, who were struggling to force pace on slower surfaces in earlier matches, rediscovered their range in the mixed soil surface at the MA Chidambaram Stadium.
India reached the team 100 in 9.1 overs but the next 100 flowed in in just 7.3 overs. Pandya (50 not out) and Tilak (44 not out) used the long handle to telling effect, scoring 84 runs for the fifth wicket as India maximised the final five overs, in which 80 runs were scored.
Pandya just reaffirmed his status as a death-over bully of bowlers with a typically scorching fifty but the outing of Tilak might have pleased the think tank to no extent.
Till this match, the left-hander was striking at a well below par 118. But the true-paced Chennai pitch helped him turn his bat into a cudgel, clubbing runs at 275.
Once India raised that massive total, it was always a case of margin and the bowlers, led by left-arm pacer Arshdeep Singh (3/24) did the stifling job to perfection to safeguard India's title defence.&nbsp;

Iran’s football federation is in talks with FIFA to move its 2026 World Cup matches from the United States to Mexico, citing safety concerns amid the ongoing Middle East conflict.

Iran 'negotiating' with FIFA over moving World Cup games to Mexico: embassy

Iran&rsquo;s football federation is in talks with FIFA to move its 2026 World Cup matches from the United States to Mexico, citing safety concerns amid the ongoing Middle East conflict.

Iran's football federation is "negotiating" with FIFA to relocate the country's first-round matches at the World Cup to Mexico from the United States, citing the conflict in the Middle East, Iran's football federation said.
Iran's participation at this summer's finals in the United States, Canada and Mexico has been thrown into doubt since the war began late last month.
"When (US President Donald) Trump has explicitly stated that he cannot ensure the security of the Iranian national team, we will certainly not travel to America," Iranian football chief Mehdi Taj said on Monday in remarks posted on the X account of Iran's embassy in Mexico.
"We are currently negotiating with FIFA to hold Iran's matches in the World Cup in Mexico."
While world football's governing body confirmed to AFP it has been in contact with the Iranian FA, FIFA did not suggest such a rescheduling was on the cards.
"FIFA is in regular contact with all participating member associations, including IR Iran, to discuss planning for the FIFA World Cup 2026," the spokesperson told AFP.
"FIFA is looking forward to all participating teams competing as per the match schedule announced on 6 December 2025."
Iran are scheduled to face New Zealand and Belgium in Los Angeles, followed by Egypt in Seattle.
The team's base camp for the tournament is currently slated to be located in Tucson, Arizona.
Abolfazl Pasandideh, Iran's ambassador to Mexico, on Monday denounced "the US government's lack of cooperation regarding visa issuance and the provision of logistical support" for the Iranian delegation ahead of the World Cup, in a statement published on the embassy's website.
He added he had also "suggested to FIFA that Iran's matches be moved from the United States to Mexico."
Trump triggered uproar last week after stating that while Iran's football team would be "welcome" in the United States, they should not travel to the tournament "for their own life and safety".
Trump's comments came after FIFA president Gianni Infantino had given assurances the US leader had promised him the Iranian team would be welcome.
Iran hit back at Trump's comments saying "no one can exclude Iran's national team from the World Cup".
Iran were the second Asian team after Japan to qualify for the World Cup, securing their place almost a year ago as they topped their qualifying group.
But Iran's place at the tournament was thrown into question after the United States and Israel launched a massive offensive against the Islamic Republic, which responded with waves of missiles and drones targeting Israeli territory and American targets across the Middle East.
Should Iran not take part in the World Cup, it is not yet clear which country might replace them.

Football

Real Madrid have mutually parted ways with coach Xabi Alonso after less than eight months, replacing him with former player Alvaro Arbeloa, who will lead the team starting with Copa del Rey clash against Albacete.

Arbeloa Replaces Alonso as Real Madrid Manager

Real Madrid have mutually parted ways with coach Xabi Alonso after less than eight months, replacing him with former player Alvaro Arbeloa, who will lead the team starting with Copa del Rey clash against Albacete.

Real Madrid said on Monday coach Xabi Alonso has left the Spanish giants by mutual consent, to be replaced by Alvaro Arbeloa.
After losing the Spanish Super Cup final against Barcelona on Sunday the club decided to part ways with the Basque coach, in charge for less than eight months, and immediately appointed former Madrid player Arbeloa who was coaching the reserve side.
"Real Madrid announces that, by mutual agreement between the club and Xabi Alonso, it has been decided to bring his tenure as first-team coach to an end," said Los Blancos in a statement.
In a separate statement Madrid then announced Arbeloa would take Alonso's place, without specifying the length of the 42-year-old's contract.
"Arbeloa has been the coach of Castilla since June 2025 and has developed his entire coaching career in Real Madrid's academy since 2020," said Los Blancos.
Arbeloa's first match at the helm is a Copa del Rey last-16 visit to face second-tier Albacete on Wednesday.
The Spaniard played 238 times for Madrid between 2009-2016, winning two Champions League titles and La Liga once, among other silverware.
Arbeloa also lifted the World Cup with Spain in 2010, as well as the European Championship in 2008 and 2012, playing alongside Alonso for club and country.
Alonso joined in June, replacing veteran Carlo Ancelotti, but Madrid struggled to find consistency under the Basque coach and are second in La Liga, four points behind Barcelona.
Los Blancos were outplayed in a 3-2 defeat in Saudi Arabia on Sunday by Hansi Flick's side, the 44-year-old's last at the helm.
"It's been short but it was a pleasure to play for you and learn from you," French superstar Kylian Mbappe wrote on Instagram.
"I will remember you as a manager who ahd clear ideas, and knows many things about football. Best of luck for (your) next chapter."
 - No 'rock'n'roll' - Alonso was close to the sack towards the end of 2025 but a run of five consecutive wins kept him in his position, until the Super Cup defeat.
Alonso had signed a three-season deal at the Bernabeu after leaving German side Bayer Leverkusen, with whom he won the Bundesliga in 2024.
Real Madrid were thrashed 4-0 by Paris Saint-Germain in July in the Club World Cup semi-finals, which was an early setback for the coach.
A 5-2 drubbing by Atletico Madrid in September was another blow for Alonso, although it was the team's only league defeat until December.
Despite a Clasico win over Barcelona in October, it appeared president Florentino Perez had not fully warmed to Alonso, who had intended to bring a modern coaching approach to the team.
While Ancelotti, who led Madrid to three Champions League wins across two spells in charge, was hailed for his man-management, Alonso was appointed for his tactical nous.
Early on during his time in charge Alonso said the "rock'n'roll" was about to begin, but it never came, with few entertaining attacking displays, despite the superb output of Mbappe, La Liga's top scorer.
Madrid struggled through a run of poor form amid an injury crisis, losing at home against Celta Vigo, and away at Liverpool in Europe, as well as drawing several domestic games.
In that period many of the tactical ideas Alonso had tried to implement, including high pressing, faded away, amid reports some star players had fallen out with him.
Brazilian wingers Vinicius Junior and Rodrygo Goes dropped out of form, going several months without finding the net.
Spanish media also said Alonso would be ousted if they failed to beat Manchester City in the Champions League in December.
Madrid lost against Pep Guardiola's side but the performance enough of an improvement that Alonso was given more time to try and save his job.
However, the defeat by Barca in Jeddah was the final straw for Madrid, who agreed a deal with Alonso for him to depart.

Lionel Messi thanked India for its warm hospitality during his three-day tour and expressed hope for a bright future for football in the country, visiting Delhi, Mumbai, Hyderabad, and Kolkata.

Lionel Messi's Memorable India Tour: Football Hopes & Promises

Lionel Messi thanked India for its warm hospitality during his three-day tour and expressed hope for a bright future for football in the country, visiting Delhi, Mumbai, Hyderabad, and Kolkata.

Lionel Messi hoped that football has a "bright future" in India and expressed gratitude for the "generous hospitality" that he received during a whirlwind three-day tour, which had thousands of fans jostling to catch a glimpse of the Argentine star in four different cities.
Messi, after extending his stay by a day to visit the Anant Ambani-founded Vantara wildlife rescue, rehabilitation, and conservation centre in Jamnagar, left for his base in Miami on Wednesday.
Taking to Instagram, the 38-year-old posted a one-minute highlights clip of the tour, featuring his interactions with Indian cricket icon Sachin Tendulkar, Bollywood actor Kareena Kapoor Khan, and several young footballers.
&nbsp;
<blockquote class="instagram-media" style="background: #FFF; border: 0; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: 0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width: 540px; min-width: 326px; padding: 0; width: calc(100% - 2px);" data-instgrm-captioned="" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/reel/DSVUB6HjLw0/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="14">
<div style="padding: 16px;">
<div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;">
<div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;">&nbsp;</div>
<div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;">
<div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;">&nbsp;</div>
<div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;">&nbsp;</div>
</div>
</div>
<div style="padding: 19% 0;">&nbsp;</div>
<div style="display: block; height: 50px; margin: 0 auto 12px; width: 50px;">&nbsp;</div>
<div style="padding-top: 8px;">
<div style="color: #3897f0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 550; line-height: 18px;">View this post on Instagram</div>
</div>
<div style="padding: 12.5% 0;">&nbsp;</div>
<div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; margin-bottom: 14px; align-items: center;">
<div>
<div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(0px) translateY(7px);">&nbsp;</div>
<div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; height: 12.5px; transform: rotate(-45deg) translateX(3px) translateY(1px); width: 12.5px; flex-grow: 0; margin-right: 14px; margin-left: 2px;">&nbsp;</div>
<div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(9px) translateY(-18px);">&nbsp;</div>
</div>
<div style="margin-left: 8px;">
<div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 20px; width: 20px;">&nbsp;</div>
<div style="width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 2px solid transparent; border-left: 6px solid #f4f4f4; border-bottom: 2px solid transparent; transform: translateX(16px) translateY(-4px) rotate(30deg);">&nbsp;</div>
</div>
<div style="margin-left: auto;">
<div style="width: 0px; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-right: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(16px);">&nbsp;</div>
<div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; flex-grow: 0; height: 12px; width: 16px; transform: translateY(-4px);">&nbsp;</div>
<div style="width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-left: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(-4px) translateX(8px);">&nbsp;</div>
</div>
</div>
<div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center; margin-bottom: 24px;">
<div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 224px;">&nbsp;</div>
<div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 144px;">&nbsp;</div>
</div>
<p style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;"><a style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none;" href="https://www.instagram.com/reel/DSVUB6HjLw0/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank">A post shared by Leo Messi (@leomessi)</a>
</div>
</blockquote>
&nbsp;
&nbsp;
&nbsp;
"What amazing visits to Delhi, Mumbai, Hyderabad, and Kolkata. Thank you for the warm reception, generous hospitality, and all the feelings of love with which you surrounded me throughout my tour. I hope that football has a bright future in India," he wrote underneath the video.
His good wishes come at a time when Indian football finds itself at its lowest ebb. The domestic season has been brought to a halt for the want of a commercial partner, and the national team's fortunes have been in a free-fall following a string of poor results. An ongoing court case over administrative issues has further deepened policy paralysis.
The superstar striker, who is among the most recognisable and adored sportspersons in the world, did not play any competitive football during the trip. He was accompanied by Uruguay great and close friend Luis Suarez and Argentina teammate Rodrigo de Paul.
Messi made stadium appearances for ticketed events in all four cities, starting with Kolkata, where things turned ugly after politicians and officials surrounded him, denying fans who had paid thousands for a seat a clear view of the icon. Agitated by this, the gathered spectators indulged in vandalism at the Salt Lake Stadium, prompting Messi to be whisked away sooner than originally planned.
However, his visits to Hyderabad, Mumbai, and Delhi passed off smoothly as he charmed fans by posing for pictures, showcasing some of his warm-up routines, and playing briefly with young players.
"...we carry all this love with us, and we will definitely return, hopefully one day to play a match or on another occasion, but we will definitely return to visit India," he said after the final leg of the tour in Delhi.

FIFA has reduced World Cup ticket prices for loyal fans, offering $60 seats for all games, including the final, following criticism over high prices and limited access for supporters.

FIFA Cuts World Cup Ticket Prices, Faces Global Criticism

FIFA has reduced World Cup ticket prices for loyal fans, offering $60 seats for all games, including the final, following criticism over high prices and limited access for supporters.

FIFA slashed the price of some World Cup tickets for teams' most loyal fans following a global backlash, with some fans now able to get $60 seats for the final instead of paying $4,185.
It was a rare climbdown by the soccer body and its president Gianni Infantino after facing waves of criticism for World Cup strategies, including top-dollar prices and closer political alignment with U.S. President Donald Trump.
FIFA said Tuesday that $60 tickets will be made available for every game at the tournament in North America, going to the national federations whose teams are playing. Those federations decide how to distribute them to loyal fans who have attended previous games at home and on the road.
The number of $60 tickets for each game is likely to be from 400 to 750 per team, in what FIFA is now calling a &ldquo;Supporter Entry Tier&rdquo; price category. FIFA is using 16 host cities, including 11 NFL stadiums in the United States, plus two in Canada and three in Mexico.
FIFA did not specify exactly why it so dramatically changed strategy, but said the lower prices are &ldquo;designed to further support traveling fans following their national teams across the tournament.&rdquo; However, the Football Supporters Europe (FSE) group, which represents grassroots fan groups, said the limited price cut was &ldquo;an appeasement tactic due to the global negative backlash.&rdquo;
&ldquo;This shows that FIFA's ticketing policy is not set in stone, was decided in a rush, and without proper consultation,&rdquo; the group said in a statement.
The World Cup in North America will be the first edition that features 48 teams &mdash; up from 32 &mdash; and is expected to earn FIFA at least $10 billion in revenue while being the most expensive ever for fans.
Despite the outcry over prices, FIFA says it has already received more than 20 million ticket requests in its latest sales phase.
The FSE group said that even with Tuesday's announcement, &ldquo;the vast majority would still have to pay extortionate prices, way higher than at any tournament before.&rdquo;
Initial pledge for cheap tickets
Fans worldwide reacted with shock and anger last week on seeing FIFA's ticketing plans that gave participating teams no tickets in the lowest-priced category. Their standard allocation is 8% of stadium capacity per team.
The cheapest prices ranged from $140 to $265 for group-stage games that did not involve co-hosts the United States, Canada, and Mexico. The $265 games involve Lionel Messi's Argentina, Portugal with Cristiano Ronaldo, and well-supported teams like Brazil and England.
FIFA had set those prices despite the co-hosts having pledged eight years ago &mdash; when they were bidding for the tournament &mdash; that hundreds of thousands of $21 tickets would be made available for games before the knockout rounds.
The hospitality program in modern NFL venues, now managed in-house instead of outsourced to an agency, is expected to earn FIFA billions of dollars rather than hundreds of millions.
European criticism
Criticism from fans, especially in Europe, had been increasing for several months over plans for &ldquo;dynamic pricing&rdquo; plus extra fees on a FIFA-run resale platform &mdash; both features common in the U.S. entertainment industry but not to soccer fans worldwide.
Fan anger intensified last week when it became clear loyal supporters would have no access to the cheapest category tickets, and fans who wanted to reserve a ticket for all of their team's potential games &mdash; through the final &mdash; would not get refunded until after the tournament.
In another climbdown Tuesday, FIFA said it would waive its administrative fees when refunds are made after the July 19 final.
Fans with disabilities Even before the FIFA statement, the supporter group FSE called Tuesday for a re-think on World Cup policy for fans with disabilities.
It said FIFA's resale platform was offering disability access seats at multiple times face value with no assurances those tickets actually would be sold to people with a disability. Those fans also can no longer get free tickets for companions as they could at the last World Cup in Qatar.
In Qatar, Infantino started an eve-of-tournament speech with a tirade at perceived critics of the host nation, FIFA, and himself that included the line &ldquo;today I feel disabled.&rdquo;
&ldquo;True inclusion requires action,&rdquo; FSE said Tuesday, reminding Infantino of that speech. &ldquo;It's time for FIFA to move away from populistic statements and respect its own commitments.&rdquo;

Argentine football star Lionel Messi arrives in Delhi for the last leg of his G.O.A.T India tour following a delayed Mumbai flight. He will attend a meet-and-greet, ticketed event, and photoshoot before returning to Miami.

Lionel Messi Wraps Up G.O.A.T India Tour With Delayed Arrival in Delhi

Argentine football star Lionel Messi arrives in Delhi for the last leg of his G.O.A.T India tour following a delayed Mumbai flight. He will attend a meet-and-greet, ticketed event, and photoshoot before returning to Miami.

Argentine football superstar Lionel Messi arrived in Delhi on Monday for the final leg of his G.O.A.T India Tour after his flight from Mumbai was delayed considerably due to inclement weather.&nbsp;
Messi, who was in Mumbai for the second day of his three-day whirlwind trip to India, was to land in the national capital around 10:45am but his charter flight was held up due to foggy conditions. He landed at the Delhi's Indira Gandhi International Airport around 2:30pm, and straightaway proceeded to the Leela Palace Hotel where he will have a Meet and Greet session for around an hour with a select group of people.&nbsp;
His final set of engagements includes an appearance at the Feroz Shah Kotla Stadium for a ticketed event and a photo-shoot programme at Purana Qila before leaving for the airport for the return to Miami, his current base.&nbsp;
The World Cup winner regaled fans in Mumbai last evening, posing alongside cricket legend Sachin Tendulkar and a bevy of Bollywood stars and politicians.&nbsp;
Before Mumbai, he also made similar appearances in Hyderabad and Kolkata. The Kolkata leg was marred by chaotic scenes at the venue as frustrated fans ripped apart seats and stormed the Salt Lake Stadium pitch after failing to catch a glimpse of the superstar, who was surrounded by politicians and officials.&nbsp;

Cristiano Ronaldo could miss Portugal’s opening match at the 2026 World Cup after receiving a red card for elbowing Ireland defender Dara O’Shea during a crucial qualifier in Dublin.

Cristiano Ronaldo Faces Possible World Cup Opening Match Ban

Cristiano Ronaldo could miss Portugal&rsquo;s opening match at the 2026 World Cup after receiving a red card for elbowing Ireland defender Dara O&rsquo;Shea during a crucial qualifier in Dublin.

Cristiano Ronaldo is at serious risk of being banned for the first game of the 2026 World Cup if Portugal qualifies as expected.
The soccer superstar was sent off for elbowing Ireland defender Dara O'Shea in the second half of a qualifying game Thursday that Portugal lost 2-0 in Dublin.
Ronaldo will serve a mandatory one-game ban imposed for any red card when Portugal hosts Armenia on Sunday knowing a win will secure a place at the World Cup hosted by the United States, Canada and Mexico.
FIFA disciplinary rules require its judges to impose a ban of &ldquo;at least two matches for serious foul play.&rdquo; The ban should be &ldquo;at least three matches for violent conduct&rdquo; or &ldquo;at least three matches or an appropriate period of time for assault, including elbowing.&rdquo; A FIFA ban would apply to competitive games and could not be served in pre-tournament exhibitions.
Ronaldo spun round and swung his right elbow into O'Shea's back as they waited for the ball to be crossed around the hour mark at Aviva Stadium with Ireland holding a surprise 2-0 lead.
The referee issued a yellow card but minutes later upgraded it to red after a video review at the pitchside monitor.
Ronaldo curled his lips in a wry look as he walked off the field being jeered and mocked by Ireland fans. He stopped and looked at the fans, clapped his hands toward them and raised two thumbs up in an apparent sarcastic gesture.
Ronaldo, who turns 41 in February, is aiming to play at a record sixth World Cup tournament. The tournament draw is made Dec. 5 in Washington DC when Portugal, if it qualifies, will learn its schedule of three opponents in the group stage.
Ireland forward Troy Parrott had scored twice in the first half Thursday to revive Irish hopes of qualification likely through the playoffs ahead of facing second-place Hungary on Sunday.
Portugal tops Group F with 10 points, two ahead of Hungary. Ireland is third with seven points.

Kylian Mbappé’s brace sent France to the 2026 World Cup with a 4-0 win over Ukraine, while Cristiano Ronaldo received his first international red card in Portugal’s 2-0 loss to Ireland, delaying their qualification.

France qualifies for 2026 World Cup; Ronaldo sent off as Portugal loses to Ireland

Kylian Mbapp&eacute;&rsquo;s brace sent France to the 2026 World Cup with a 4-0 win over Ukraine, while Cristiano Ronaldo received his first international red card in Portugal&rsquo;s 2-0 loss to Ireland, delaying their qualification.

Kylian Mbapp&eacute; and France are going to the 2026 World Cup. And Cristiano Ronaldo might be banned from Portugal's first game there if his team finally wins its European qualifying group.
Two goals from star striker Mbapp&eacute; helped two-time champion France qualify with a 4-0 home win against Ukraine on Thursday. But Ronaldo was ejected for the first time in his international career, and Portugal will have to wait until Sunday to secure a qualifying spot for the seventh straight time after it was stunned 2-0 by Ireland in Dublin.
Midfielder Michael Olise and substitute forward Hugo Ekitik&eacute; added the other goals in a dominant second half from France, the World Cup runner-up in 2022.
Mbapp&eacute; sent the penalty straight down the middle to break the deadlock in the 55th minute before Olise turned inside the penalty area to curl home the second goal in the 76th at Parc des Princes in western Paris.
Mbapp&eacute; poked in France's third goal from close range in the 83rd following a goal-mouth scramble. He moved onto 55 goals &mdash; just two behind Olivier Giroud as France's all-time top scorer.
&ldquo;The French national team will always be better with him in it,&rdquo; coach Didier Deschamps said about Mbapp&eacute;. &ldquo;He makes things easier for us. He performed his role perfectly this evening, as both a player and the captain of the national team.&rdquo;
Mbapp&eacute; went close to a hat trick moments later but blazed over after going clean through.
France has won Group D with 13 points. Ukraine and Iceland are tied on seven points and will play for second place when they meet on Sunday.
Ronaldo's 1st international red card
Portugal will host last-place Armenia in the final qualifying game on Sunday, when Hungary hosts Ireland at the same time.
Portugal tops Group F with 10 points, two ahead of Hungary. Ireland is third with seven points.
Ronaldo was sent off for elbowing Ireland defender Dara O'Shea on the hour. The referee issued a yellow card but minutes later upgraded it to red after a video review.
Portugal coach Roberto Martinez said he thought the ejection was &ldquo;a bit harsh,&rdquo; pointing out that Ronaldo "has never been sent off before in 226 games.&rdquo;
Ronaldo will serve a mandatory one-game ban imposed for any red card when Portugal plays Armenia. FIFA disciplinary rules require judges to impose a ban of &ldquo;at least two matches for serious foul play.&rdquo;
Troy Parrott put the hosts ahead with a close-range header following a corner in the 17th minute against the run of play, with Portugal dominant. Parrott added his second in the final minute before the break, beating Diogo Costa with a low shot from inside the area. Haaland's double
Erling Haaland scored twice as Norway moved closer to qualifying for the World Cup for the first time since 1998 by beating Estonia 4-1 in Oslo.
The win virtually secures a spot for the high-scoring Norwegians in next year's tournament in the United States, Canada and Mexico.
Italy had to rely on late goals from Gianluca Mancini and substitute Francesco Pio Esposito to win 2-0 at Moldova and is second in Group I, trailing leader Norway by three points.
Italy will likely have to settle for the playoffs, where the four-time World Cup champion was eliminated in the past two editions. It hosts Norway on Sunday and would have to win by a nine-goal margin to directly qualify because of Norway's vastly superior goal difference.
Haaland has scored 14 of Norway's European-best 33 goals in seven group-stage games. The Manchester City striker was born two years after Norway last reached the World Cup.
&nbsp; Still perfect England Already-qualified England continued to cruise.
It beat Serbia 2-0 at Wembley Stadium to keep a perfect record in Group K and is yet to concede a goal.
Bukayo Saka fired England ahead on a rebound with a left-foot volley in the 28th minute after an initial shot by Nico O'Reilly was blocked. Substitute forward Eberechi Eze added the second in the 90th off a pass from another substitute, Phil Foden.
Albania beat Andorra 1-0 in the same group to secure the runner-up spot.