Name: Ronaldinho's 18-year-old son Joao Mendes signs for Barcelona
Uploaded: 2023-03-02T19:51:04.000+05:30
Duration: T00M28S
Channel: Editorji News Desk
Description: Joao Mendes' arrival at FC Barcelona was announced through a Twitter post on Thursday

Travis Head scores his fourth straight Test century at Adelaide Oval as Australia takes a 356-run lead over England, putting Ashes series out of England’s reach.

Ashes 2025: Travis Head slams unbeaten 142 to crush England's Ashes hopes

Travis Head scores his fourth straight Test century at Adelaide Oval as Australia takes a 356-run lead over England, putting Ashes series out of England&rsquo;s reach.

Danger man Travis Head crunched his fourth century in as many Tests at Adelaide Oval Friday as Australia built a 356-run lead over England to stand on the brink of retaining the Ashes.
The hosts were 271-4 at stumps on day three of the third Test with Head on 142 and first-innings century-maker Alex Carey not out 52, taking the five-match series out of England's reach.
England must win after crashing inside two days at the first Test in Perth and inside four in Brisbane, both by eight wickets.
But it appears to be an impossible task with the highest run chase at the ground 316 by Australia against England in 1902.
Head said the job was not finished yet and Australia had to "rock up again" on Saturday.
"We've had another really, really good day today.
"Tomorrow will be another huge day, the wicket is deteriorating and starting to spin.
"The goal is to try and put on as many as we can in the morning and get to work and try to win the Test match."
Head's crucial ton, his 11th, came off a composed 146 balls although he almost didn't get there, dropped on 99 by Harry Brook as impatience got the better of him.
He has now scored a century in four consecutive Tests on his home ground, following 140 against India last year and 119 and 175 against the West Indies.
 - 'It calls for heroes' -
"The way Head has batted is next level, and he has shown us how to go about it," conceded England spin coach Jeetan Patel.
"Every game of Test cricket we play, especially out here in Australia, calls for heroes.
"And we haven't had them just yet, but maybe we will have them tomorrow and the day after."
Australia suffered an early setback in a tense 20 minutes before lunch after England were all out for 286 on the back of Ben Stokes's gritty 83 in response to Australia's first innings 371.
Bryson Carse trapped Jake Weatherald lbw for one and he did not review although replays showed the ball was pitching outside leg stump.
It gave England a glimmer of hope, but after the break Head slammed the door shut, cutting and chopping boundaries all around the ground.
Marnus Labuschagne went for 13 when he edged Josh Tongue to Harry Brook at slip, with reviews showing it carried.
Usman Khawaja, who hit a defiant 82 in the first innings after his last-minute call-up for the ill Steve Smith, was a perfect foil for the more aggressive Head.
But on 40 he was caught behind off Will Jacks and Cameron Green followed soon after for seven, edging Tongue to Brook.
After getting through the nervous 90s, Head finally brought up his century with a four off Joe Root, taking off his helmet and kissing the turf before pumping his fists.
While not in the same vein as his match-winning 69-ball century in Perth, it was a critical knock, supported by Carey and aided by Stokes not bowling.
 - Gutsy Stokes -
Patel said Stokes, who batted for two sessions on Thursday in 40 Celsius heat, was not injured.
"From what I understand he is fit to bowl," said Patel.
"He's just knackered, he's taken a lot out of himself to get to this point in the game."
On Friday's resumption, Stokes and Jofra Archer kept England's dreams just about alive with a stirring 106-run ninth-wicket stand.
They began at 213-8 in muggy conditions with Stokes not out 45 and Archer on 30.
Stokes, who suffered leg cramps and dehydration during his gutsy rearguard action on Thursday, brought up his slowest ever 50 in Tests, off 159 balls.
He finally fell when Mitchell Starc took the new ball and bowled him, with Stokes one of the few players who showed the fight he had demanded before the game.
Archer was another, ably helping his captain.
The fast bowler was the last man out when caught by Labuschagne off Scott Boland for 51 -- his highest Test score and a maiden half-century
Boland ended with 3-45 while Pat Cummins took 3-69 in his first Test since July.

Alex Carey slammed a heartfelt 106, Usman Khawaja scored 82, as Australia reached 326-8 on day one of the third Ashes Test at Adelaide Oval.

Emotional Carey slams ton to give Australia upper hand in 3rd Ashes Test

Alex Carey slammed a heartfelt 106, Usman Khawaja scored 82, as Australia reached 326-8 on day one of the third Ashes Test at Adelaide Oval.

An emotional Alex Carey slammed a majestic 106 on his home ground and Usman Khawaja hit a defiant 82 Wednesday to put Australia in the driving seat of the third Ashes Test against England.
Batting after captain Pat Cummins won the toss as temperatures topped 36 Celsius at Adelaide Oval, the hosts were 326-8 at stumps on day one after the shock of Steve Smith being ruled out with illness.
Mitchell Starc was not out 33 and Nathan Lyon yet to score.
"To make a hundred here in front of home fans and family was special," an emotional Carey told Australian TV.
As he celebrated his maiden Ashes ton, Carey gestured towards the sky in a nod to his father Gordon, who died from cancer in September.
"I guess you know as well why I was looking to the heavens. I'm trying not to tear up. But, no, it was great."
The wicketkeeper's wife Eloise was spotted in tears by TV cameras as he celebrated.
"To have, mum, brother, sister, Eloise, the kids (here), it was a special moment," Carey added.
A tireless Jofra Archer ended with 3-29 on a tough day for England's bowlers in the field.
"I thought it was a good performance from our bowlers, the heat took us a bit by surprise," said England bowling coach David Saker.
"The boys toiled away.
"(Archer) had a point to prove, he sustained his pace and bowled at the stumps, and he was well supported."
 - Khawaja reprieve -
Australia lead the five-Test series 2-0 and will retain the Ashes if they win or draw, after back-to-back eight-wicket thumpings in Perth and Brisbane.
Smith, who has more than 10,000 runs, had been feeling unwell in the lead-up but was on Tuesday named in the side.
He was on the field during the morning warm-up but left 20 minutes before the toss shaking his head.
His absence gave an unexpected reprieve to Khawaja, who turns 39 on Thursday and had been overlooked as opener in favour of Travis Head and Jake Weatherald.
Khawaja, who missed Brisbane after suffering back spasms in Perth, grabbed his chance in a stoic knock.
He was eventually out just before tea, slog-sweeping to Josh Tongue in the deep off the spin of Will Jacks.
Carey picked up the mantle, first alongside Josh Inglis (32), then Pat Cummins (13), and latterly Starc, who once more showed his prowess with the bat.
Carey hit eight fours and a six in his third Test century, bringing up the milestone in front of family, friends and 56,298 fans -- the biggest cricket crowd ever at the venue.
 - Archer burst -
A blistering first over after lunch from Archer had left Australia reeling at 94-4.
He removed Marnus Labuschagne for 19 with his first ball after the interval.
Two deliveries later Cameron Green was gone, with Brydon Carse collecting catches at midwicket to dismiss both.
Inglis and Cummins fell in the final session to Tongue and Carse respectively.
Players from both teams wore black armbands as a mark of respect to the victims of the Bondi Beach mass shooting.
A moment of silence was held before the game with security tightened and flags flying at half-mast.
At the start, Weatherald raced to 18 off 27 balls but his gung-ho approach cost him against the pace of Archer, who fired down a bouncer and induced a top edge to wicketkeeper Jamie Smith.
Head followed next over for 10, with Zak Crawley taking a sensational instinctive catch low to his left off Carse.
Khawaja, on five, was fortunate to survive when Harry Brook dropped a sitter at second slip and went on to bring up his 28th Test 50 to big cheers.
Carey had a life on 52 when Carse put down a difficult chance in the covers and the 34-year-old made the most of it before falling when he top-edged Jacks to Smith just before the close.

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.
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"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;

Steve Smith was sidelined from the third Ashes Test in Adelaide due to a potential vestibular issue but is expected to return for the fourth Test on Boxing Day.

Steve Smith Aims Ashes Return; Misses Third Test Due to Health

Steve Smith was sidelined from the third Ashes Test in Adelaide due to a potential vestibular issue but is expected to return for the fourth Test on Boxing Day.

Steve Smith is aiming to be back in Ashes action for Australia on Boxing Day after being ruled out shortly before play started Wednesday in the third test at Adelaide.
Smith was talking to Australian coach Andrew McDonald on the field in the hour before the toss of the coin, when it appeared the final decision was made to leave him out of the XI so he can continue recovering from dizziness and nausea.
That allowed Usman Khawaja an unexpected recall for Australia, batting at No. 4 to replace Smith rather than opening the innings.
Australian team management later said Smith was being treated for a &ldquo;potential vestibular issue&rdquo; in the inner ear, ruling out speculation that the star batter had sustained a concussion during a net practice session.
He practiced with the Australia squad on Saturday and Sunday, skipped Monday's session, but returned on Tuesday and batted again in the nets on Wednesday morning.
&ldquo;Steve is feeling a little bit unwell the last couple of days,&rdquo; returning captain Pat Cummins said at the coin toss. "He came and gave it a crack this morning but didn't think he was going to get up for this one, so he's headed off home. But we're pretty lucky we have got someone like Usman who can step right in.&rdquo;
Team management said Smith, who has dealt with vertigo symptoms in the past, is likely to return for the fourth test starting Dec. 26 at the Melbourne Cricket Ground.
&ldquo;He was assessed and monitored closely and was close to being available to play," Australian team management said in a statement. &ldquo;However, given the persistence of symptoms, a decision was made not to proceed.&rdquo;
Smith led Australia to eight-wicket wins in Perth and Brisbane in the absence of Cummins. He hit the winning runs in Brisbane as Australia took a 2-0 lead in the five-match series.
Cummins won the toss and elected to bat first in Adelaide, his first test since sustaining a back injury in July. England needs a victory in the third test to have any chance of reclaiming the Ashes.

India captain Suryakumar Yadav and vice-captain Shubman Gill face intense scrutiny over poor form as India aim to seal the T20I series against South Africa in Lucknow.

India vs South Africa T20I: Suryakumar's Form in Focus

India captain Suryakumar Yadav and vice-captain Shubman Gill face intense scrutiny over poor form as India aim to seal the T20I series against South Africa in Lucknow.

Shubman Gill's lean patch has been the talking point but an equally "out of runs" skipper Suryakumar Yadav is also under intense scrutiny as India look to find the right balance and seal the five-match series against South Africa in the fourth T20I in Lucknow on Wednesday.
The third game was an ideal opportunity for Suryakumar to rediscover his touch while India chased a modest 118-run target, but the ease that once made him the top ranked batter in the world was noticeably missing. Shots that defined his dominance have been producing erratic results and the match in Dharamsala was no different as he fell to his trademark pick-up stroke, highlighting a continued struggle.
But he was defiant when it came to self-assessment. "The thing is, I've been batting beautifully in the nets. I'm trying everything that's in my control. When the runs have to come, they'll definitely come. I'm not out of form, but definitely out of runs," Suryakumar confidently said at the post-match presentation ceremony after India's win in Dharamsala on Sunday.
However, the numbers tell a worrying story. The Indian captain has been searching for fluency for over a year, averaging under 15 in the format this season. Additionally, he's still without a half-century in 2025, the longest such phase of his career. Only twice during this period has he managed to bat beyond 20 balls.
With the T20 World Cup less than two months away, the defending champions would want their leader and premier batter to rediscover his rhythm sooner rather than later.
Vice-captain Shubman Gill's struggles are as bad if not worse. His elevation to the opening slot has seemingly unsettled India's top order. Gill replaced a well-settled Sanju Samson. The Kerala wicketkeeper-batter was first pushed down the order and eventually dropped despite forming a promising partnership with Abhishek Sharma earlier.
Gill has shown his class in other formats, but in T20Is he is yet to come across the assured batter that he is in Tests and ODIs. While he survived during Sunday's low-target chase, his scratchy run-a-ball 28 did little to ease concerns with seven matches to go before the World Cup.
India have added Shahbaz Ahmed to the squad following Axar Patel's illness-enforced exit from the series, a move that could open the door for Kuldeep Yadav to get an extended run. Jasprit Bumrah's availability remains uncertain after missing the previous match for personal reasons. In his absence, Arshdeep Singh returned to form with a player-of-the-match performance, while Harshit Rana complemented him well in Dharamsala.
South Africa seek consistency
India currently lead the five-match series 2-1. Fortunes have swung wildly so far in the series. While South Africa dominated and the Indians looked completely out of sorts in the lung-opener, the roles were reversed in the next match.
South Africa have been comprehensively beaten twice so far and would be eager to win on Wednesday to keep the series alive. Since the T20 World Cup final last June, the Proteas have lost 18 of the 28 matches in the shortest format, highlighting a prolonged phase of inconsistency.
Still searching for a settled combination, the South African team management continues to ring in changes. The constant chopping and changing has contributed to a lack of rhythm in the players and has ultimately cost them many games.
The last edition's runners-up side has five matches remaining -- two against India and three at home against the West Indies -- to finalise the playing XI before its T20 World Cup opener on February 9. Whether the Proteas persist with rotation at the expense of results remains to be seen.
Teams (from):
India: Suryakumar Yadav (captain), Shubman Gill, Abhishek Sharma, NT Tilak Verma, Shahbaz Ahmed, Hardik Pandya, Shivam Dube, Jitesh Sharma (wk), Varun Chakravarthy, Arshdeep Singh, Jasprit Bumrah, Sanju Samson (wk), Harshit Rana, Kuldeep Yadav, Washington Sundar.
South Africa: Aiden Markram (captain), Quinton de Kock, Reeza Hendricks, Dewald Brevis, David Miller, Tristan Stubbs, Donovan Ferreira, Marco Jansen, Lutho Sipamla, Ottniel Baartman, Anrich Nortje, Lungi Ngidi, Corbin Bosch, Keshav Maharaj, George Linde. Match starts at 7 pm.

IPL 2026 auction saw uncapped Indian players make history, Cameron Green emerge as costliest buy, and franchises spend over ₹215 crore on 77 players.

IPL 2026 auction wrap: Complete team squads and salary details

IPL 2026 auction saw uncapped Indian players make history, Cameron Green emerge as costliest buy, and franchises spend over ₹215 crore on 77 players.

The IPL 2026 auction threw up several notable patterns, with uncapped Indian players emerging as some of the biggest beneficiaries.&nbsp;
While Australia all-rounder Cameron Green ended as the most expensive buy at ₹25.20 crore, it was Prashant Veer and Kartik Sharma who grabbed attention by becoming the joint costliest uncapped Indian players in IPL history, securing ₹14.20 crore each from Chennai Super Kings at the auction held in Abu Dhabi on Tuesday.
Overall, the 10 franchises collectively spent ₹215.45 crore to pick 77 players, including 29 overseas cricketers, reflecting a strong mix of domestic investment and international recruitment. Chennai Super Kings
Players bought: Kartik Sharma (₹14.20 cr), Prashant Veer (₹14.20 cr), Rahul Chahar (₹5.20 cr), Akeal Hosein (₹2 cr), Matt Henry (₹2 cr), Matthew Short (₹1.50 cr), Aman Khan (₹40 L), Sarfaraz Khan (₹75 L), Zakary Foulkes (₹75 L) Retained: Ruturaj Gaikwad (c), Ayush Mhatre, M.S. Dhoni, Dewald Brevis, Urvil Patel, Shivam Dube, Jamie Overton, Ramakrishna Ghosh, Noor Ahmad, Khaleel Ahmed, Anshul Kamboj, Gurjapneet Singh, Shreyas Gopal, Mukesh Choudhary, Nathan Ellis
Traded in: Sanju Samson (from RR)
Purse remaining: ₹2.40 crore
------------------------------------------- Mumbai Indians
Players bought: Quinton de Kock (₹1 cr), Mohammad Izhar (₹30 L), Danish Malewar (₹30 L), Atharva Ankolekar (₹30 L), Mayank Rawat (₹30 L) Retained: Hardik Pandya, Rohit Sharma, Suryakumar Yadav, Tilak Varma, Ryan Rickleton, Robin Minz, Mitchell Santner, Corbin Bosch, Naman Dhir, Jasprit Bumrah, Trent Boult, Allah Ghafanzar, Ashwani Kumar, Deepak Chahar, Will Jacks, Raghu Sharma, Raj Angad Bawa Traded in: Sherfane Rutherford (from GT), Mayank Markande (from KKR), Shardul Thakur (from LSG) Purse remaining: ₹55 lakh
------------------------------------------- Kolkata Knight Riders
Players bought: Cameron Green (₹25.20 cr), Matheesha Pathirana (₹18 cr), Mustafizur Rahman (₹9.20 cr), Tejasvi Singh (₹3 cr), Finn Allen (₹2 cr), Tim Seifert (₹1.50 cr), Rahul Tripathi (₹75 L), Kartik Tyagi (₹30 L), Daksh Kamra (₹30 L), Sarthak Ranjan (₹30 L), Prashant Solanki (₹30 L), Akashdeep (₹1 cr), Rachin Ravindra (₹2 cr) Retained: Ajinkya Rahane, Sunil Narine, Rinku Singh, Angkrish Raghuvanshi, Manish Pandey, Varun Chakravarthy, Ramandeep Singh, Ankul Roy, Rovman Powell, Harshit Rana, Vaibhav Arora, Umran Malik Purse remaining: ₹45 lakh
-------------------------------------------
Royal Challengers Bengaluru
Players bought: Venkatesh Iyer (₹7 cr), Mangesh Yadav (₹5.20 cr), Jacob Duffy (₹2 cr), Satwik Deswal (₹30 L), Jordan Cox (₹75 L), Vihaan Malhotra (₹30 L), Kanishk Chouhan (₹30 L), Vicky Ostwal (₹30 L) Retained: Rajat Patidar (c), Virat Kohli, Devdutt Padikkal, Phil Salt, Jitesh Sharma, Krunal Pandya, Swapnil Singh, Tim David, Romario Shepherd, Jacob Bethell, Josh Hazlewood, Yash Dayal, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Nuwan Thushara, Rasikh Salam, Abhinandan Singh, Suyash Sharma Purse remaining: ₹25 lakh
-------------------------------------------
Punjab Kings
Players bought: Cooper Connolly (₹2 cr), Ben Dwarshuis (₹4.40 cr), Praveen Dubey (₹30 L), Vishal Nishad (₹30 L)
Retained: Prabhsimran Singh, Priyansh Arya, Shreyas Iyer, Shashank Singh, Nehal Wadhera, Marcus Stoinis, Azmatullah Omarzai, Marco Jansen, Harpreet Brar, Yuzvendra Chahal, Arshdeep Singh, Musheer Khan, Pyala Avinash, Harnoor Pannu, Suryansh Shedge, Mitchell Owen, Xavier Bartlett, Lockie Ferguson, Vyshak Vijaykumar, Yash Thakur, Vishnu Vinod Purse remaining: ₹3.50 crore
------------------------------------------- Gujarat Titans
Players bought: Jason Holder (₹7 cr), Ashok Sharma (₹90 L), Luke Wood (₹75 L), Prithvi Raj Yarra (₹30 L), Tom Banton (₹30 L) Retained: Shubman Gill (c), Sai Sudharsan, Kumar Kushagra, Anuj Rawat, Jos Buttler, Nishant Sindhu, Washington Sundar, Arshad Khan, Shahrukh Khan, Rahul Tewatia, Kagiso Rabada, Mohammed Siraj, Prasidh Krishna, Ishant Sharma, Gurnoor Singh Brar, Rashid Khan, Manav Suthar, Sai Kishore, Jayant Yadav, Glenn Phillips Purse remaining: ₹1.95 crore
------------------------------------------- Rajasthan Royals
Players bought: Ravi Bishnoi (₹7.20 cr), Ravi Singh (₹95 L), Sushant Mishra (₹90 L), Vignesh Puthur (₹30 L), Yash Raj Punja (₹30 L), Aman Rao (₹30 L), Brijesh Sharma (₹30 L), Kuldeep Sen (₹75 L), Adam Milne (₹2.40 cr) Retained: Shubham Dubey, Vaibhav Suryavanshi, Lhuan-Dre Pretorius, Shimron Hetmyer, Yashasvi Jaiswal, Dhruv Jurel, Riyan Parag, Yudhvir Singh Charak, Jofra Archer, Tushar Deshpande, Kwena Maphaka, Nandre Burger Traded in: Ravindra Jadeja (from CSK), Sam Curran (from CSK) Purse remaining: ₹2.65 crore
------------------------------------------- Sunrisers Hyderabad
Players bought: Salil Arora (₹1.50 cr), Shivang Kumar (₹30 L), Sakib Hussain (₹30 L), Onkar Tarmale (₹30 L), Krains Fuletra (₹30 L), Praful Hinge (₹30 L), Amit Kumar (₹30 L), Shivam Mvi (₹75 L), Liam Livingstone (₹13 cr), Jack Edwards (₹3 cr) Retained: Pat Cummins (c), Travis Head, Abhishek Sharma, Aniket Verma, R. Smaran, Ishan Kishan, Heinrich Klaasen, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Harsh Dubey, Kamindu Mendis, Harshal Patel, Brydon Carse, Jaydev Unadkat, Eshan Malinga, Zeeshan Ansari Purse remaining: ₹5.45 crore -------------------------------------------
Lucknow Super Giants
Players bought: Josh Inglis (₹8.60 cr), Mukul Choudhary (₹2.60 cr), Akshat Raghuwanshi (₹2.20 cr), Anrich Nortje (₹2 cr), Wanindu Hasaranga (₹2 cr), Naman Tiwari (₹1 cr) Retained: Abdul Samad, Ayush Badoni, Aiden Markram, Matthew Breetzke, Himmat Singh, Rishabh Pant (c), Nicholas Pooran, Mitchell Marsh, Shahbaz Ahmed, Arshin Kulkarni, Mayank Yadav, Avesh Khan, Mohsin Khan, Manimaran Siddharth, Digvijay Rathi, Prince Yadav, Akash Singh Traded in: Mohammed Shami (from SRH), Arjun Tendulkar (from MI) Purse remaining: ₹4.55 crore -------------------------------------------
Delhi Capitals
Players bought: Auqib Nabi Dar (₹8.40 cr), Pathum Nissanka (₹4 cr), Ben Duckett (₹2 cr), David Miller (₹2 cr), Lungi Ngidi (₹2 cr), Sahil Parakh (₹30 L), Prithvi Shaw (₹75 L), Kyle Jamieson (₹2 cr) Retained: Axar Patel (c), KL Rahul, Abishek Porel, Tristan Stubbs, Karun Nair, Sameer Rizvi, Ashutosh Sharma, Vipraj Nigam, Madhav Tiwari, Tripurana Vijay, Ajay Mandal, Kuldeep Yadav, Mitchell Starc, T. Natarajan, Mukesh Kumar, Dushmantha Chameera Traded in: Nitish Rana (from RR) Purse remaining: ₹35 lakh

Virat Kohli and Anushka Sharma visited Premanand Ji Maharaj at Shri Hit Radha Keli Kunj Ashram in Vrindavan, seeking spiritual guidance and blessings.

Virat Kohli and Anushka Sharma visit Premanand Ji Maharaj in Vrindavan

Virat Kohli and Anushka Sharma visited Premanand Ji Maharaj at Shri Hit Radha Keli Kunj Ashram in Vrindavan, seeking spiritual guidance and blessings.

Star Indian cricketer Virat Kohli and his wife Anushka Sharma visited Premanand Ji Maharaj at his Ashram Shri Hit Radha Keli Kunj, Varah Ghat in Vrindavan.&nbsp;
In a video shared by Bhajan Marg's official Instagram handle, Kohli and Sharma were seen engaging in a spiritual conversation (Ekantik Vartalaap) with the Maharaj.
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During the interaction, Premanand Ji Maharaj advised the couple to treat their work as a service to God. He said, "Apne karyakshetra ko bhagwan ka seva smajhiye. Gambhir bhav se rahiye. Vinamra rahiye. Aur khub naam jap kijiye. (Treat your work as your service to God. Be serious and humble. And pray to the Almighty)."
This marked the couple&rsquo;s third visit to Vrindavan this year. They had returned to India last week from the UK. Earlier, in January, Virat Kohli, Anushka Sharma, and their children visited Vrindavan to seek the blessings of Premanand Ji Maharaj.
The couple also sought blessings from the spiritual leader a day after Kohli announced his retirement from Test cricket in May this year.

Kolkata Knight Riders broke records by bidding Rs 25.20 crore for Australia all-rounder Cameron Green at the IPL mini-auction, while Prithvi Shaw and Sarfaraz Khan went unsold.

Cameron Green Becomes IPL's Most Expensive Overseas Player

Kolkata Knight Riders broke records by bidding Rs 25.20 crore for Australia all-rounder Cameron Green at the IPL mini-auction, while Prithvi Shaw and Sarfaraz Khan went unsold.

Kolkata Knight Riders splurged a record-breaking Rs 25.20 to land top Australian all-rounder Cameron Green even as Prithvi Shaw and Sarfaraz Khan went unsold in the Indian Premier League mini auction in Abu Dhabi on Tuesday.&nbsp;
Green surpassed compatriot Mitchell Starc (Rs 24.75 crore) to become the most expensive overseas buy at an IPL auction. This was after Kolkata Knight Riders and Chennai Super Kings were involved in an intense bidding war for him before the latter emerged winner.
However, his salary for the season would still be Rs 18 crore (USD 1.9 million) as the rest of the amount will go towards the BCCI's player development programme as per the rules of the auction for foreign players.&nbsp;
Green, who previously turned up for Mumbai Indians and Royal Challengers Bengaluru, has so far played 29 matches in the IPL to aggregate 707 runs and take 16 wickets.&nbsp;
Shaw, however, went unsold despite his fine run of form in the domestic circuit lately, and so was the case with Sarfaraz, who smashed a 22-ball 73 in a Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy match for Mumbai on Tuesday.&nbsp;

The IPL 2026 will be held from March 26 to May 31, with RCB’s home opener at M. Chinnaswamy Stadium pending safety clearance following fan fatalities during 2025 celebrations.

IPL 2026: Uncertainty Over Opening Match Venue Amid Safety Concerns

The IPL 2026 will be held from March 26 to May 31, with RCB&rsquo;s home opener at M. Chinnaswamy Stadium pending safety clearance following fan fatalities during 2025 celebrations.

The upcoming edition of the Indian Premier League will be held between the March 26 to May 31 window but it remains to be seen if Bengaluru, the home of RCB, holds the opening match.&nbsp;
As per the norms, the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium should host the tournament opener given the home side, Royal Challengers Bengaluru won the IPL 2025 title.&nbsp;
While the venue has received conditional clearance from the Karnataka state government, it also needs to meet the necessary safety and security standards following the death of 11 fans in a stampede during RCB's victory celebrations in June this year.&nbsp;
The mini-auction for IPL 2026 will be held in Abu Dhabi today with three-time winners Kolkata Knight Riders coming in with the biggest purse

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Joao Mendes' arrival at FC Barcelona was announced through a Twitter post on Thursday

Ronaldinho's 18-year-old son Joao Mendes signs for Barcelona

Following in the footsteps of his legendary father, Ronaldinho's son Joao Mendes has signed for Barcelona.

#Barcelona #Barca #Ronaldinho

Joao Mendes' arrival at FC Barcelona was announced through a Twitter post on Thursday

Barcelona have announced the signing of club legend Ronaldinho's son Joao Mendes.
The club issued a statement on Twitter, along with photos of the 18-year-old signing his contract.
The youngster who turned 18 only a week back is following in the footsteps of his father, a Brazilian football legend, who made 145 appearances for the Catalan Giants. Mendes previously played for the Cruzeiro U-17 side in Brazil.
Also read: <a href="https://www.editorji.com/sports-news/football/lionel-messi-gifts-his-world-cup-winning-argentina-teammates-coaches-24-carat-gold-iphones-1677758568040">Lionel Messi gifts his World Cup-winning Argentina teammates &amp; coaches 24-carat gold iPhones</a>
&nbsp;

Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma headline the Vijay Hazare Trophy, with young stars like Shubman Gill and Rishabh Pant also in focus as selectors watch domestic performances closely.

Vijay Hazare Trophy: Stars and Emerging Talents Set to Shine

Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma headline the Vijay Hazare Trophy, with young stars like Shubman Gill and Rishabh Pant also in focus as selectors watch domestic performances closely.

The charismatic presence of Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma alongside a host of top India cricketers lends unprecedented gravitas to the Vijay Hazare One-Day Trophy beginning on Wednesday, giving all of them a chance to prove a point amid a renewed focus on domestic grind.
The velvety tapestry of superstars also features Rishabh Pant, Shubman Gill, Suryakumar Yadav, Abhishek Sharma among others but none attracts as much attention as Kohli and Rohit.
Their appearance has a direct link to the BCCI's decision of making at least two Vijay Hazare Trophy matches mandatory for India cricketers. But in case of Kohli, who is playing in this tournament after 15 years, and Rohit, it is a sharp reminder that they are no longer immune to the evolving power equations within Indian cricket.
The celebrated pair remain the biggest current stars of the game but that status can't mask the reality that both cricket and time have entered the freeway. They are now the Beatles looking for chart space in the age of Beach Bunny. But watching that gradual unfolding of struggle itself is fascinating.&nbsp;
Can Ro-Ko fire?
Rohit has made it clear that he will play the first two matches of Mumbai against Sikkim and Uttarakhand in Jaipur on December 24 and 26.
Kohli, who has been training with former India batting coach Sanjay Bangar in Mumbai, has not yet decided as to which two or three matches he will play for Delhi.
Delhi will open their Elite Group D campaign against Andhra in Bengaluru, either at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium or at the BCCI Centre of Excellence depending on the decision of the Karnataka state home ministry, following which they will face Gujarat.
Since his arrival in Bengaluru on Tuesday night, assumptions are being made that the star batter will play those two matches. Both Kohli and Rohit still have the power to choose their games, but what they don't seem to have is the power to choose their destiny.
An underwhelming outing in the Vijay Hazare Trophy will not have a say in their selection for the ODIs against New Zealand next month, but more than anyone else, Kohli and Rohit would also know that the space around them is shrinking. They know that younger names are breathing down their necks.
How long can they resist the weight of domestic runs scored by a rising star? There are plenty of them too in the likes of Yash Dhull or R Smaran.
The recent omission of Gill from India's T20 World Cup squad and the inclusion of Ishan Kishan on the back of a stellar Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy is a grim pointer to what might happen with Kohli and Rohit if runs don't flow easily from their bats. If the selectors can drop Gill, the current high-value property in Indian cricket, because of combination compulsions, then not many will be spared.
So, for Kohli and Rohit, this is a battle with themselves to find the inner fire in the modest surroundings of a domestic event, as much as it is against a tight circling younger generation of players.
Gill, Pant eye fruitful outing
Besides the Ro-Ko show, there are several interesting sub-plots to explore. Pant, a Test certainty, will be eager to bring himself back in contention for white ball formats selection. The wicketkeeper batter has not represented the country in either ODIs or T20Is since August 2024.
Gill, on the other hand, will be picking himself up after the selectors' call to overlook him for the upcoming T20 World Cup. The right-hander will be aiming to vent some of that frustration while turning out for Punjab.
For Gill, it will be a good warm-up ahead of next month's three-match ODI series against New Zealand in which he will lead India.
Will young bowling talents emerge?
Another pertinent point could be the interest of selectors in young bowlers in this edition of the tournament, particularly on the pacers. Since Mohammed Siraj came through the Ranji Trophy circuit a few years back, no young talent has been able to produce compelling outings to break into the established Indian pace order.
Even the support line -- consisting of Prasidh Krishna, Harshit Rana and Akash Deep -- has not been consistent enough. In that context, Gurjapneet Singh (Tamil Nadu), Gurnoor Brar (Punjab), Yudhvir Singh (J&amp;K), Anuj Thakral (Haryana) and Sakib Hussain (Bihar) etc will evoke keen interest from the selectors.
Matches start at 9 am.

England coach Brendon McCullum wants to continue despite a heavy Ashes series defeat, saying decisions on his future rest with others.

McCullum wants to stay as England coach despite Ashes drubbing

England coach Brendon McCullum wants to continue despite a heavy Ashes series defeat, saying decisions on his future rest with others.

England coach Brendon McCullum wants to stay in his job despite a chastening Ashes series defeat but admits his future is out of his hands.
England are 3-0 down in the five-match series after just 11 days of cricket, outplayed by a hungry Australian team.
McCullum had branded the tour as "the biggest series of all our lives" but defeats in Perth, Brisbane and Adelaide have ended the tourists' hopes of wresting back the Ashes from their fierce rivals.
Now he and managing director of men's cricket Rob Key are facing tough questions over their positions after yet another England capitulation in Australia.
McCullum's predecessor, Chris Silverwood, did not survive a 4-0 defeat four years ago.
The New Zealander has a contract with England until the end of 2027 -- a period that includes the next home Ashes, earlier in the same year.
But the 44-year-old said, in comments carried by British media, that his fate would be decided by others.
"I'll just keep trying to do the job, try to learn the lessons that we haven't quite got right here and try to make some adjustments," said McCullum. "Those questions are for someone else, not for me.
"Sometimes you don't win, and then those decisions are up to other people. It's a pretty good gig, it's good fun. You travel the world with the lads and try to play some exciting cricket and try to achieve some things."
McCullum said he believed England had improved since he took over in 2022, when he and captain Ben Stokes came together and urged players to play a fearless form of cricket dubbed "Bazball".
"We're not the finished article, but I think we've definitely improved as a cricket team," he said. "We've had an identity about us.
"You're always looking at what you've got right and what you've got wrong, and you're not too ignorant to admit -- or too arrogant either -- that you get some things wrong. (It's OK) as long as you don't keep making the same mistakes."
McCullum said England must show their identity in the final two games of the series, in Melbourne and Sydney.
"I'll always have the back of my players, and always support them, and I'll always make sure that I'm protective of them as well in a public forum," he said.
"That doesn't mean you don't challenge privately, but in a public forum, you're always protective.
"I wouldn't imagine anything would change in the coming days as we look to try and salvage something from this. I have conviction in the style of cricket that I try to get the teams to play, with the players that you've got who are suited to it."

Australia captain Pat Cummins and spinner Nathan Lyon have been ruled out of the fourth Ashes Test, with Steve Smith set to lead at the MCG.

Todd Murphy Debuts; Cummins Rested for Melbourne Ashes Test

Australia captain Pat Cummins and spinner Nathan Lyon have been ruled out of the fourth Ashes Test, with Steve Smith set to lead at the MCG.

Australian skipper Pat Cummins and Nathan Lyon were Tuesday ruled out of the fourth Ashes Test against England with the veteran spinner facing surgery and an extended period on the sidelines.
Quick bowler Jhye Richardson and spinner Todd Murphy were named as cover in a 15-man squad for the clash starting on Friday at the Melbourne Cricket Ground.
Australia have already retained the Ashes with eight-wicket wins in Perth and Brisbane and an 82-run victory in Adelaide.
"Pat Cummins will miss the match as part of his ongoing management plan," Cricket Australia said, with Adelaide his first Test since July after lower back issues.
Steve Smith, who captained the team in Cummins' absence during the first two Tests, will lead the team again in Melbourne after missing Adelaide with vertigo symptoms.
"Nathan Lyon will have surgery on a torn right hamstring which will sideline him for an extended period," the governing body added.
Lyon, 38, damaged his right hamstring saving a boundary on day five in Adelaide fielding and hobbled off after.
In Adelaide, he claimed his 564th wicket to move clear of fellow Australian great Glenn McGrath and into sixth on the all-time Test bowling list.
Murphy is set to play his first home Test, with his seven previous Tests all overseas. He last played for Australia in Sri Lanka earlier this year.
Richardson was included after a four-year Test absence, during which he underwent three shoulder surgeries.
Scott Boland and Mitchell Starc are again set to lead the attack after pulling up well from Adelaide, with Michael Neser, Brendan Doggett and Richardson battling to join them.
Australia squad: Steve Smith (capt), Scott Boland, Alex Carey, Brendan Doggett, Cameron Green, Travis Head, Josh Inglis, Usman Khawaja, Marnus Labuschagne, Todd Murphy, Michael Neser, Jhye Richardson, Mitchell Starc, Jake Weatherald, Beau Webster

New Zealand beat West Indies by 323 runs in third Test at Mount Maunganui, with twin centuries from Latham and Conway and Duffy’s five-wicket haul.

New Zealand Clinches Series with Dominant Win Over West Indies

New Zealand beat West Indies by 323 runs in third Test at Mount Maunganui, with twin centuries from Latham and Conway and Duffy&rsquo;s five-wicket haul.

New Zealand crushed West Indies by 323 runs on Monday to win the third Test at Mount Maunganui and seal a 2-0 series victory, with Jacob Duffy's five-wicket haul proving crucial.
The hosts set a target of 462 and bowled out the tourists for 138, wrapping up the innings four overs after tea following a dramatic collapse either side of lunch.
Duffy finished with 5-42 and was backed up by Ajaz Patel, who claimed 3-23, while opener Brandon King top-scored for West Indies with 67.
New Zealand's Devon Conway scored 227 and 100 in two innings, while captain Tom Latham scored 137 and 101 -- the first opening pair in first-class cricket history to score twin centuries in the same match -- to set up the win.
The series began with a draw in Christchurch, before New Zealand won the second Test in Wellington.
"It was a pretty clinical performance," Latham said. "Winning the toss, batting first, being able to get close to 600, the perfect blueprint.
"And then obviously doing what we did with the ball... guys sort of playing the way that they did was obviously really pleasing," he said.
Seamer Duffy and spinner Patel posed constant danger to both edges of the bat on a cracked surface that offered uneven movement and bounce.
West Indies collapsed from 87-0 to 112-8 either side of lunch after starting the day on 43-0.
King dominated early, hitting a flurry of cuts and drives and scoring 53 of his team's first 59 runs.
New Zealand captain Latham's field placements had lacked aggression but that changed after the drinks break when Duffy broke the opening stand, with King gloving a rising delivery to Glenn Phillips at gully.
 - 'Below par' -
Patel struck in the next over, removing John Campbell for 16 after a rash attempt to slog down the ground. Phillips took another good catch in the deep.
Patel soon claimed another, with first-innings centurion Kavem Hodge falling for a duck.
Duffy then dismissed Alick Athanaze for two and Justin Greaves for nought in successive overs, leaving the West Indies reeling.
He struck again two overs later, with Alick Athanaze edging to keeper Tom Blundell for 2, before removing Justin Greaves for nought with an edge to Daryl Mitchell at slip.
Duffy then had Roston Chase caught off the gloves by Latham at slip for five, capping a miserable series for the West Indies captain.
Chase scored just 42 runs at an average of seven in three matches, the second-worst figures for a captain dismissed six or more times in a Test series.
"I think I had a tough series, very below par for my standards," Chase said. "I didn't really lead from the front on the field.
"Leading in terms of words and encouraging and inspiring the team, that was all good and well, but in terms of going out there and producing for the team, I thought that I let myself down and the team down as well."
Patel claimed Shai Hope's wicket for three from 78 balls after a controversial lbw review. Hope did not offer a shot but the ball was deemed to be hitting his foot on the full and going on to hit the stumps.
Phillips then took his first wicket of the match by bowling Kemar Roach, who was nursing a hamstring strain.
Rachin Ravindra was introduced in the final session and snared Anderson Phillip's wicket with an lbw, before Duffy wrapped up the innings by bowling Jayden Seales.

Former India captain Rohit Sharma says he thought about retiring after India’s heartbreaking loss to Australia in the 2023 ODI World Cup final, calling it the toughest phase of his career.

Rohit Sharma Contemplated Retirement After 2023 ODI World Cup Loss

Former India captain Rohit Sharma says he thought about retiring after India&rsquo;s heartbreaking loss to Australia in the 2023 ODI World Cup final, calling it the toughest phase of his career.

In a stunning revelation, former India captain Rohit Sharma on Sunday said he contemplated retirement after the heartbreaking loss to Australia in the 2023 ODI World Cup final as he "felt that the sport had taken everything out of me."
Under the captaincy of Rohit, the Indian team enjoyed a dream run in that tournament at home and marched into the final with nine consecutive wins. However, Australia dashed their hopes in the game that mattered the most, with Travis Head scoring a match-winning hundred.
"After 2023 World Cup final, I was completed distraught and felt like I didn't want to play this sport anymore because it had taken everything out of me and I felt I had nothing left," Rohit said during a Masters Union event.
&nbsp;
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
"After the loss in Ahmedabad I honestly felt like I didn&rsquo;t want to play this Cricket anymore" Rohit Sharma spoke about what happened after the loss in the 2023 World Cup final in Ahmedabad.🗣️- "Everybody was extremely disappointed, and we just couldn&rsquo;t believe what had&hellip; <a href="https://t.co/wpKUjYvMYl">pic.twitter.com/wpKUjYvMYl</a>
&mdash; 𝐑𝐮𝐬𝐡𝐢𝐢𝐢⁴⁵ (@rushiii_12) <a href="https://twitter.com/rushiii_12/status/2002705623851602149?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 21, 2025</a></blockquote>
&nbsp;
&nbsp;
"It took some time and I kept reminding myself that this is something I truly love, that it was right in front of me, and I couldn't let it go so easy. Slowly, I found my way back, regaining the energy and getting myself moving again on the field.
"Everybody was extremely disappointed, and we just couldn't believe what had happened. It was a very tough time for me personally because I had put everything into that World Cup not just two or three months before it, but ever since I took over the captaincy in 2022," he added.
Rohit, who has retired from T20Is and Tests and was removed from ODI captaincy earlier this year, continues to play the 50-over format and would like to end his career with one final attempt at the 2027 World Cup.
"My only goal was to win the World Cup, whether it was the T20 World Cup or the 2023 World Cup. So when it didn't happen, I was completely devastated. There was no energy left in my body. It took me a couple of months to recover and bring myself back," said Rohit.
Less than a year after that loss to Australia in Ahmedabad, Rohit led the Indian team to the T20 World Cup title in the Americas, but overcoming the pain of the defeat in November 2023 was extremely difficult.
"I guess when you invest so much into something and don't achieve the result, it's a very natural reaction. That's exactly what happened with me. But I also knew that life doesn't end there.
"It was a big lesson for me how to deal with disappointment, reset, and start fresh. I knew that something else was coming the 2024 T20 World Cup in the USA and West Indies and I had to shift all my focus towards that.
"It's very easy to say this now, but at that moment, it was extremely difficult," Rohit said.

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