Indian all-rounder Axar Patel has been ruled out of the remaining two T20I matches against South Africa due to illness. He will be replaced by Shahbaz Ahmed, who has previously played five international games for India. The men's selection committee has named him as Patel's replacement for the matches in Lucknow and Ahmedabad. India has also faced the absence of pace leader Jasprit Bumrah, whose availability for the next two games is still uncertain. Despite these setbacks, India was able to secure a 2-1 series lead with a win in the third T20I.
After a successful tour in Kolkata, Hyderabad, and Mumbai, football superstar Lionel Messi arrived in the national capital for the final leg of his GOAT India Tour. Brimming with fan enthusiasm, the tour concluded with a star-studded celebrity match, interactions with young footballers, and a stage ceremony attended by several dignitaries. Messi's visit to Mumbai and Hyderabad also saw him meet Indian football legend Sunil Chhetri, Bharat Ratna Sachin Tendulkar, and state leaders. However, Kolkata's leg ended in chaos due to the presence of VIPs and politicians on the field with Messi, causing disappointment for many fans.
India's spin all-rounder, Axar Patel has been ruled out of the remaining two T20Is against South Africa due to illness. The development comes at a crucial stage of the series, with India currently holding a 2-1 lead and aiming to seal the contest on home soil. Shahbaz Ahmed has been named as his replacement for the games in Lucknow and Ahmedabad. This will be a big blow to India's balance, as Axar's consistency with both bat and ball had been crucial to their plans. India will now look to rely more heavily on their spin options and increase all-round responsibilities for players like Hardik Pandya, Shivam Dube and Washington Sundar.
In a major blow to Team India, all-rounder Axar Patel has been ruled out of the remaining T20I series against South Africa due to illness. Shahbaz Ahmed has been named his replacement for the matches in Lucknow and Ahmedabad. Meanwhile, India had a dominant performance in the third T20I, winning by seven wickets and 25 balls to spare.
Argentine football legend Lionel Messi visits India on his GOAT tour and is welcomed with overwhelming love and support from fans. He delivers a heartfelt speech, expressing his gratitude and hopes to return to India for a football match in the future. ICC Chairman Jay Shah gifts Messi with a No.10 Team India jersey and an invitational ticket to the T20 World Cup 2026, making the visit even more special for the football star.
The St. Louis Cardinals have reached an agreement with experienced right-hander Dustin May to supplement their young pitching staff. While the club has yet to confirm the deal, sources familiar with the negotiations reveal that the 28-year-old was signed to a one-year contract. May, who missed the 2024 season due to arm injuries, will bring much-needed experience and a career-high in innings to the Cardinals' rotation. The team will have to make room on their 40-man roster for May's official signing, but they are hopeful that he will be a strong addition alongside other promising pitching prospects.
In a moment that exemplified the growing connection between cricket and football, ICC Chairman Jay Shah gifted football legend Lionel Messi with a ticket to India's opening match in the 2026 T20 World Cup. The exchange, which also included a Team India jersey and a signed cricket bat, was warmly received by fans and quickly gained traction on social media, highlighting the strategic and symbolic move by Shah to promote cricket's global reach. Messi's ongoing tour of India has garnered massive attention, with the interaction with the ICC chief adding even more buzz.
In his first Big Bash League match, Pakistan's Shaheen Afridi struggled to contain the scoring and was ultimately removed from the attack after being deemed dangerous for delivering two consecutive beamers. His team, the Brisbane Heat, suffered a heavy defeat to the Melbourne Renegades, with the latter's Tim Seifert scoring the first century of the tournament. Meanwhile, Afridi's international teammate, Mohammad Rizwan, also had a tough outing for the Renegades.
The ongoing 'GOAT India Tour' 2025 will bring Argentine legend Lionel Messi and his teammates Luis Suarez and Rodrigo De Paul to the Vantara facility in Gujarat's Jamnagar, where they will be hosted by founder Anant Ambani for a night. This follows the previous visits of dignitaries such as the US President's son, Donald Trump Jr, and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, praising Vantara's commitment to conservation. The excitement is palpable as fans eagerly await Messi's arrival in Delhi, his final stop on the tour.
In a heated moment during the ongoing ICC Champions Trophy match between India and Pakistan, there was a physical altercation between Pakistan captain Mohammad Rizwan and Indian pacer Harshit Rana. This incident has caused a stir in the cricketing world and has gone viral on social media. In the match, Pakistan is on the back foot after losing two early wickets and making a change in their playing XI due to an injury. Meanwhile, India remains unchanged after their win against Bangladesh.