FC Goa players paused active play for the opening seconds of their ACL2 clash against Istiklol at Fatorda as a symbolic gesture to highlight uncertainty affecting Indian football

Margao: For a few seconds after the referee blew his whistle, signalling start of play, there was no action at the Nehru Stadium in Fatorda on Wednesday. FC Goa captain Iker Guarrotxena, entrusted with the responsibility of kickstarting the game, squatted. His teammates on the field followed.Istiklol FC didn’t know what was happening in this concluding AFC Champions League Two group-stage clash. They simply stood, waited. To the thousand-odd spectators in the stands, and those watching on television, it was clear that Goa paused active play for the opening seconds as a symbolic gesture to highlight the uncertainty currently affecting Indian football.

“This action was solely intended to draw attention to the broader challenges facing the domestic football ecosystem,” the club later said in a statement. “It was not directed at our opponents FC Istiklol, the AFC, or the AFC Champions League Two, all of whom we respect greatly. The gesture carried no element of protest against the competition or its stakeholders and was made in good faith, without any intent to cause offence or disruption.”Once the match kicked off, Goa took control. Within seven minutes, the hosts were ahead, Dejan Drazic scoring his first and the team’s second goal in the competition. Istiklol, however, fought back in the second session to score through Seun Komolafe (’53) and Amirbek Juraboev (’55, penalty) for a 2-1 win.Neither team, though, made it to the knockout stage. Istiklol and Goa finished third and fourth in the group as Al-Nassr maintained their all-win record with a 5-1 demolition of Al Zawraa. The Iraqi side, however, also qualified in second place, despite having a goal difference of minus three, ahead of Istiklol on minus six.Goa probably didn’t expect much from this game. With eight players either suspended or injured, coach Manolo Marquez was forced into an experimental lineup that had just three foreign players and a midfield duo of youngsters Harsh Patre and Prachit Gaonkar, both starting for the first time.The hosts took an unexpected lead early in the game, made possible by the brilliance of Drazic. The Serbian received a long ball on the left from Aakash Sangwan and then did what he does best: create uncertainty in the mind of the defenders. When his first effort failed, he was lucky to have the ball again at his feet, this time finishing with an exquisite shot into the top corner.Had Istiklol keeper Stosic Nikola not dived full length to keep out a fierce long ranger from Iker, Goa would have been two goals ahead inside the first 18 minutes.Istiklol were a better side and it showed on the field. They kept the ball, created chances and rattled the crossbar twice in the first session, without success.After the change of ends, Istiklol had two goals in three minutes. The first was a gift as Komolafe intercepted a back pass from Patre, before keeper Lara Sharma could get there, and the second was a penalty after Pol Moreno handled the ball.Goa’s hopes of securing at least a point in the competition brightened towards the last 15 minutes when Qurbonov Sodiqjon was sent off for a second bookable offence. But despite attempts from Iker, Abdul Rabeeh, Muhammed Nemil and Brison Fernandes – an added time hopeful long ranger from inside Goa’s own half and the keeper out of position – Manolo’s side ended their campaign without a point.

Former Australia captain Ricky Ponting has delivered a candid evaluation of Cameron Green’s international trajectory, highlighting the all-rounder’s struggles in the ongoing Ashes series despite his blockbuster IPL 2026 acquisition.

Green, snapped up by Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) for a record ₹25.20 crore as the most expensive overseas player in IPL history, has managed just 76 runs and two wickets across three Tests as Australia clinched the series early. Ponting’s remarks, shared during an ICC Review, underscore the gap between Green’s potential and his current output, even as his unique skill set keeps him in selectors’ plans.​

Ricky Ponting highlights modest career numbers of Cameron Green

The 26-year-old Green debuted in Test cricket five years ago against India in Adelaide, accumulating 1,641 runs at an average of 32.82 across 35 matches, including two centuries, while claiming 37 wickets. His standout knocks include a gritty 114 in Ahmedabad during the 2023 Border-Gavaskar Trophy and an unbeaten 174 in Wellington in March 2024, which powered Australia to a 172-run victory over New Zealand. However, Ponting noted Green’s home average dipping under 30, limited bowling impact post-back surgery, and only two hundreds in over 30 Tests, making it “quite hard to get a gauge on him yet as an international player.“​

Ponting praised Green’s “very complete package” when firing, citing his value in the dressing room where players and coaches “absolutely love what he brings to the group.” Yet, he pinpointed inconsistency as the core issue, urging the deep thinker to simplify his approach rather than constantly tinkering. This comes amid Australia’s persistence with Green at No. 7, sidelining competitors like Beau Webster, whom Ponting called the “unfortunate player” this summer after strong domestic showings.​

IPL 2026 expectations and Ponting’s advice for Green turnaround

KKR’s mega bid for Green at the IPL 2026 mini-auction in Abu Dhabi outstripped Mitchell Starc’s previous overseas record of ₹24.75 crore, with bidding wars involving Mumbai Indians, Rajasthan Royals, and Chennai Super Kings before KKR sealed the deal from a ₹2 crore base price. Though Green takes home ₹18 crore after BCCI’s player development deductions, KKR head coach Abhishek Nayar views him as a top-order anchor to replace Andre Russell, targeting 500 runs from the top three with his powerplay prowess. Anil Kumble endorsed this strategy, suggesting Green at No. 3 over finishing duties given KKR’s depth in Rinku Singh and Rovman Powell.​

Green’s IPL track record stands at 707 runs and 16 wickets in 29 matches across Mumbai Indians (2023) and Royal Challengers Bengaluru (2024), though he skipped IPL 2025 recovering from back surgery. Fully cleared to bowl now, his all-round skills align perfectly with KKR’s needs for balance, especially post-Russell. Ponting reacted to the auction buzz with surprise—”Over ₹25 crore… it’s a lot of money!“—but backed Green’s long-term upside if he commits to a method.​​

Also READ: IPL 2026 Auction: Salary of Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) players; check out how much Rinku Singh and Cameron Green earn

Ponting’s advised Green in ICC review, “Keep things as simple as you can, think about what you’ve done at domestic cricket and take your domestic game to the Test match and back it in for a while.”

He believes exposure at the highest level will refine Green, predicting selectors’ patience given 30-plus Tests invested. As Green eyes redemption in the Boxing Day Test and IPL glory, Ponting’s measured critique spotlights the pressure on the ₹25.20 crore star to deliver consistency across formats. Australian teammates’ faith and KKR’s vision signal belief, but Green’s evolution hinges on mastering simplicity amid high stakes.

Also READ: From Cameron Green to Josh Inglis: Top 10 most expensive buys at IPL 2026 Auction

Pune: Amid reports of a possible tie-up between the NCP and NCP (SP) for the upcoming civic elections, the latter party’s working president and Member of Parliament (MP) Supriya Sule on Thursday said “sharp political differences in the past have not prevented alliances”. Speaking to reporters in Pune, Sule cited the 1999 split in Congress that led to the formation of the (then-undivided) Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) by Sharad Pawar. She recalled that Pawar was expelled from the Congress by Sonia Gandhi before he floated the new party.

“Despite strong criticism from both sides at the time, Sonia Gandhi later visited Pawar’s residence with a proposal for an alliance, and the two sides eventually came together to form govt,” she said. Responding to questions on how party workers from the two factions would work together despite having criticised each other after the split, Sule said similar situations have played out in the past as well. “Even then, workers from both sides criticised each other and there were attempts to end each other’s political careers, but they eventually came together. That realignment happened at the state level. This time, it is limited to cities,” she said. The two NCP factions are likely to form an alliance for the upcoming municipal elections, particularly after chief minister Devendra Fadnavis announced that the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) will not ally with NCP in Pune and Pimpri Chinchwad even if they are part of Mahayuti alliance. Sule said that although Congress and then undivided NCP were in power in Maharashtra for 18 years, they never contested local body elections as allies. “Despite being partners at the state level, the two parties fought several local elections separately. Such situations are common in politics. There are many examples,” she said. On concerns about managing party cadres, Sule said the leadership would ensure that workers’ interests are safeguarded. “Sharad Pawar has been active in politics for six decades because party workers, not power, have always been at the centre of his politics. He knows every worker by their name,” she said. Drawing a parallel with the formation of the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA), Sule said Balasaheb Thackeray and Sharad Pawar strongly criticised each other, but Uddhav Thackeray still joined hands with the NCP to form an alliance “in the interest of Maharashtra”. “Such criticism is part of politics,” Sule said, adding that talks on a possible alliance between the two NCP factions for several municipal corporations in the state are underway. However, she said no final proposal has been placed before the party leadership yet. “Senior leaders from both sides are holding discussions, but we are still awaiting a final proposal,” she said, adding that Jayant Patil and Shashikant Shinde of NCP (SP) are leading the negotiations.

You don’t have permission to access “http://www.ndtv.com/india-news/madhya-pradesh-minister-kailash-vijayvargiyas-taj-mahal-was-a-temple-remark-sparks-row-9961177” on this server.

Reference #18.acf856b8.1766684282.249c8d86

https://errors.edgesuite.net/18.acf856b8.1766684282.249c8d86

You don’t have permission to access “http://www.ndtv.com/world-news/bangladesh-unrest-live-burning-minorities-alive-bangladesh-sheikh-hasina-attacks-muhammad-yunus-regime-in-new-address-tarique-rahman-9960988” on this server.

Reference #18.56fdd417.1766681594.547bd254

https://errors.edgesuite.net/18.56fdd417.1766681594.547bd254

Victor Wembanyama is playing with limited minutes (Image via NBA)

Victor Wembanyama will play for the San Antonio Spurs on Christmas Day against the Oklahoma City Thunder. San Antonio’s injury report is clean for its main rotation, clearing the way for the team to field its strongest lineup in one of the league’s marquee holiday games.The matchup comes after a stretch of careful handling for Wembanyama, who dealt with a calf issue earlier in the season. The Spurs eased him back with managed minutes and brief bench roles, but that phase is now over. He enters this game fully available, giving San Antonio stability on both ends of the floor.

Victor Wembanyama’s Injury Report vs the Oklahoma City Thunder (December 25, 2025)

Victor Wembanyama does not carry any injury designation. He previously missed close to a month with a left calf strain, but has looked steady since returning. Head coach Mitch Johnson has stressed long-term caution, yet Wembanyama is expected to play meaningful minutes when the game is on the line.Since rejoining the lineup, he has averaged around 23 points, 11 rebounds, and three blocks per game. His presence has reshaped San Antonio’s defense and restored a reliable scoring option near the rim.

San Antonio Spurs Injury Report vs the Oklahoma City Thunder (December 25, 2025)

San Antonio Spurs list no core players as unavailable. Only two-way G League players Harrison Ingram, David Jones Garcia, and Stanley Umude are out. With Wembanyama cleared, the Spurs will also have De’Aaron Fox, Devin Vassell, and Keldon Johnson available as they look to continue a strong run against Oklahoma City.

Oklahoma City Thunder’s Injury Report vs the San Antonio Spurs (December 25, 2025)

Oklahoma City Thunder enter the game with several absences. Ajay Mitchell remains in concussion protocol, Jaylin Williams is sidelined with heel bursitis, and Ousmane Dieng is out with a calf injury. Nikola Topic is also unavailable as he continues his recovery from surgery.The Thunder will still rely heavily on Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Chet Holmgren, and Jalen Williams, all of whom are cleared to play. Their availability keeps Oklahoma City competitive despite the thinner bench.Earlier this month, Victor Wembanyama scored 22 points and grabbed nine rebounds in just 20 minutes against the Thunder, helping the Spurs secure a win. San Antonio has beaten Oklahoma City twice in recent matchups, benefiting from improved health and tighter defensive play.The focal point again will be Victor Wembanyama against Holmgren. With San Antonio close to full strength and Oklahoma City missing rotation pieces, this Christmas Day game at Paycom Center carries real weight for both teams.

NEW DELHI: Quick commerce unicorn Zepto is set to pre-file its draft red herring prospectus (DRHP) with market regulator Sebi on Friday through a confidential route, as it targets a stock market listing sometime next year, according to sources.The move positions Zepto to become one of the youngest startups to list on Indian stock exchanges.If the listing goes through, Zepto will join its rivals Zomato and Swiggy, both of which are already listed on the exchanges.“Zepto is set to pre-file its draft red herring prospectus (DRHP) with Sebi on December 26,” people familiar with the developments told PTI.Eternal, which owns Zomato and quick commerce platform Blinkit, was listed in 2021, while Swiggy, which operates Instamart, made its stock market debut in November 2024.The confidential pre-filing allows the company to engage with the Securities and Exchange Board of India (Sebi) for initial feedback on its draft document without it being publicly disclosed. This route has been increasingly favoured by companies seeking more flexibility in their IPO preparations and responding to market conditions before a public filing.Queries sent to Zepto elicited no response.Valued at USD 7 billion, the company has raised a total of USD 1.8 billion, or about Rs 16,000 crore, from marquee investors since its inception.In October 2025, the company raised USD 450 million (about Rs 3,757.5 crore) in a funding round led by the California Public Employees’ Retirement System (CalPERS) at a valuation of USD 7 billion.Zepto achieved unicorn status in August 2023, after raising USD 200 million in its Series E funding round, which valued the startup at USD 1.4 billion.Founded by Stanford University dropouts Aadit Palicha and Kaivalya Vohra, Zepto rapidly scaled its 10-minute grocery delivery model across major Indian cities.As of September 2025, the company had more than 900 dark stores, burned Rs 1,000-1,100 crore in cash and garnered gross sales of USD 3 billion, or about Rs 26,000 crore.