Manchester City moved up to fourth place in the Champions League league phase table after their win over Real Madrid, but manager Pep Guardiola is keeping expectations in check despite the victory. City are currently third favorites to win Europe's top prize, but Guardiola believes they still have room for improvement before truly contending for the title in February. Despite the dampened expectations, City's victory over Real Madrid shows their potential as a top team in Europe.
The recent change in India's T20I opening pair, reintroducing Shubman Gill and pushing Sanju Samson out of the role, has sparked a heated debate ahead of the 2026 T20 World Cup, especially after Gill's recent struggles to make an impact. Robin Uthappa, a former player, questions why Samson, who was in stellar form before being removed from the opening spot, was unsettled in the first place. With Gill's vice-captaincy and the emergence of other talented players, it remains to be seen how the team management will handle the opening combination going forward.
Football fans in India are shocked by the news that a single photograph with Argentine superstar Lionel Messi will cost a whopping Rs 10 lakh. The exclusive meet-and-greet event, set to take place in Hyderabad, has sparked a wave of sarcasm and budget jokes on the internet, with some fans suggesting more practical alternatives like using a photo editing app or traveling to Argentina. While some fans see this as a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, others feel it is out of reach.
Ace Indian footballer Sunil Chhetri has declined an invitation to meet with football superstar Lionel Messi during his upcoming tour of India, citing the lack of football-related activities in the itinerary. Chhetri, who is disappointed with the state of the sport in India, believes that the attention and resources should be directed towards improving Indian football instead of organizing events unrelated to the sport. Meanwhile, Messi's tour will be focused on meeting political figures and celebrities, rather than playing competitive football matches like in the past.
Gujarat Titans head coach Ashish Nehra criticizes people for jumping to conclusions about Shubman Gill's performance after just a few matches in the unpredictable T20 format. Despite a strong comeback in the Asia Cup as vice-captain, Gill's accumulated 181 runs in the last 10 games with a strike rate below 140. Nehra believes that the tendency to judge players solely based on numbers is a major issue in Indian cricket and sarcastically suggests alternative options if changes are deemed necessary.
Andhra's Nitish Kumar Reddy, who recently represented India in Tests and ODIs, showed his talent with a hat-trick against Madhya Pradesh in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy Super League stage. Despite his impressive performance, MP was able to chase down a modest target of 113 thanks to a composed 73-run partnership between Rishabh Chouhan and Rahul Batham. MP secured a four-wicket victory with 15 balls to spare and earned four crucial points.
Nitish Kumar Reddy, who recently rejoined the Andhra team after the India-South Africa ODI series, put on a sensational bowling performance in a Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy match against Madhya Pradesh. He took a hat-trick by dismissing Harsh Gawli, Harpreet Bhatia, and Rajat Patidar on the final three balls of the third over of the run-chase. Along with his impressive bowling, Reddy also made a useful contribution with the bat, scoring 25 runs off 27 balls.
In a heartwarming moment at the New Chandigarh Stadium, former India all-rounder Yuvraj Singh slipped into the Indian team's pre-match huddle to deliver a motivational talk, just moments after a stand in his name was unveiled. He expressed his pride in the team's growth and predicted their success in the upcoming T20 World Cup in 2026. Despite being on the other side, Yuvraj continues to support and inspire his former teammates.
Indian teenager Vaibhav Suryavanshi stole the show in the opening game of the U19 Asia Cup with a record-breaking knock of 171 runs off just 95 deliveries at a strike rate of 180. Suryavanshi smashed 14 sixes, surpassing Michael Hill's 17-year-old record, as he led India U19 to a massive total of 433 runs in their 50 overs. The 14-year-old's performance broke a record that stood for 17 years and he just missed out on becoming the player with the highest individual score for India in Youth ODIs by seven runs.
Indian batting prodigy Vaibhav Suryavanshi showcased his incredible form as he smashed a brilliant hundred off just 56 balls in India's first match of the Under-19 Asia Cup against UAE. The star left-handed batsman hit 5 fours and 9 sixes, helping India bounce back from a shaky start and set up a dominating victory. This is Suryavanshi's fourth century this year, and his first in a List A tournament, adding to his impressive record of three T20 centuries.
Vaibhav Suryavanshi, a young star cricketer from India, made a massive impact in his first game of the U19 Asia Cup tournament against the UAE. Suryavanshi, known for his aggressive batting, scored a century in just 56 deliveries and went on to notch up 150 runs in the first innings. This talented player, who made his IPL debut earlier this year, shows no signs of slowing down and is a name to watch out for in the world of cricket.