The opening T20I of the India vs South Africa series at the Barabati Stadium witnessed a moment of pure bowling brilliance when Axar Patel dismissed South African skipper Aiden Markram with a stunning delivery. The dismissal, which came off the very first ball of the sixth over, became one of the standout highlights of India’s commanding victory.

Axar Patel produces a beauty to uproot Aiden Markram’s stumps

South Africa, in pursuit of India’s competitive total, were looking to rebuild their innings when Markram took strike against Axar. What followed was a textbook example of left-arm accuracy and subtle variation. Axar bowled a flatter-length delivery targeting middle and leg, giving the batter almost no room to manoeuvre. Deceptively skidding through instead of turning, the ball zipped into Markram, who pressed back trying to work it towards the leg side.

But the South African captain misjudged the line and pace. Beaten on the inside edge, Markram watched in disbelief as the ball straightened just enough to clip the leg stump, sending it cartwheeling. Axar’s celebration reflected the significance of the breakthrough, while the crowd erupted in appreciation of the perfectly executed delivery.

Here’s the video:

Spinners doing the trick 🪄

Axar Patel 🤝 Varun Chakaravarthy #TeamIndia chipping away at the wickets in Cuttack 🔢

Updates ▶️ https://t.co/tiemfwcNPh #INDvSA | @akshar2026 | @chakaravarthy29 | @IDFCFIRSTBank pic.twitter.com/Hjg7nUKCDV

— BCCI (@BCCI) December 9, 2025

Also READ: Fans erupt as Hardik Pandya propels India to emphatic win over South Africa in the first T20I

Hardik Pandya powers India to commanding win

India opened the five-match T20I series with a dominant performance, riding on Hardik Pandya’s explosive innings to seize control after a shaky start on a challenging surface. While most batters struggled to find rhythm, Pandya’s counter-attacking knock transformed India’s total from a potentially below-par score into a highly competitive one.

The momentum he created carried into the bowling effort, where India’s attack dismantled South Africa’s top order in quick succession, removing Quinton de Kock, Tristan Stubbs, Markram and David Miller before the visitors could build any foundation. Dewald Brevis tried to steady the chase with a composed effort amid constant pressure, but as wickets fell around him and the asking rate kept rising, South Africa never recovered and eventually folded for just 74.

Also READ: IND vs SA: Fans fume as India drop Sanju Samson in the first T20I against South Africa

The US Federal Reserve is widely expected to lower borrowing costs this week, but deep divisions within the policy-making panel suggest further rate cuts will be harder to secure, analysts say.Policymakers are set to meet on December 9–10 amid a complicated economic backdrop, with inflation still running above the Fed’s 2% target even as hiring weakens and unemployment rises. Economists expect Chair Jerome Powell to back a quarter-point cut — the third this year — though dissent is likely to be unusually high, AP reported.Some analysts believe as many as three officials could vote against the cut, marking the most dissenting votes in six years. Only 12 of the Fed’s 19 rate-setting committee members vote on decisions, and several non-voting officials have also expressed opposition to further easing.“It’s just a really tricky time. Perfectly sensible people can reach different answers,” William English, economist at Yale School of Management and former senior Fed staffer, said, highlighting the challenge of building consensus.The debate has been complicated by sparse official data following the prolonged US government shutdown, which delayed employment and inflation readings. Inflation pressures would normally argue against rate cuts, while signs of labour market weakness point in the opposite direction.Most economists now expect a “hawkish cut” — a rate reduction accompanied by guidance suggesting the Fed may pause to assess economic conditions. Financial markets are increasingly focused on the tone of Powell’s commentary rather than the cut itself.Kansas City Fed president Jeffrey Schmid is expected to dissent again in favour of holding rates steady, potentially joined by St. Louis Fed president Alberto Musalem. Fed governor Stephen Miran may oppose the quarter-point move and instead argue for a larger half-point reduction.Expectations of a December cut firmed after New York Fed president John Williams said the recent rise in inflation appeared to be a temporary effect linked to tariffs, and that he still saw “room for a further adjustment” in rates. Market-implied odds of a cut now stand at about 89%, according to CME Fedwatch.Powell’s leadership is also being tested politically, as President Donald Trump has repeatedly criticised the Fed chair and signalled that a new chair will be appointed when Powell’s term ends in May.While concerns about unemployment — which rose to 4.4% in September — are driving support for a December cut, economists caution that additional easing will depend on upcoming data. The Fed will review a backlog of jobs and inflation reports before its next meeting in January, which could either justify further cuts or compel a pause.

Lionel Messi (AP Photo/Rebecca Blackwell)

Lionel Messi has secured the MLS MVP award, making history as the first player to claim this honour in consecutive years. As the captain of the MLS Cup champions, Inter Miami, Messi has established himself as the dominant force in Major League Soccer.At 38, the Argentine star continues to break records, adding another milestone to his illustrious career. His outstanding performance included 29 goals and 19 assists during the regular season, leading the league in scoring.Messi joins Preki as only the second player to win multiple MVP awards in MLS history. While Preki won in 1997 and 2003, all other recipients have earned the award only once.“He was fantastic the whole season, with the numbers and also with the commitment,” Inter Miami coach and longtime Messi teammate Javier Mascherano said.Despite playing in only half of Inter Miami’s regular-season games in 2024, Messi’s impact was undeniable. While last year’s vote was close, this year’s decision was clear-cut.The voting results showed Messi receiving 70.4% of total votes. San Diego’s Anders Dreyer finished second with 11.2%, followed by LAFC’s Denis Bouanga at 7.3%, Cincinnati’s Evander at 4.8%, and Nashville’s Sam Surridge at 2.4%.Messi’s career accolades include eight Ballon d’Or titles, eight Pichichi trophies, six La Liga best player awards, three Best FIFA Men’s Player awards, three UEFA Men’s Player of the Year wins, two FIFA World Cup Golden Balls, and 15 selections as Argentina’s best player. He has won 47 trophies with club and country, including the 2022 World Cup.“The reality,” Mascherano said as the regular season was ending, “is that Leo clears all doubts.”Messi becomes the sixth player to win both MVP and a championship in the same MLS season. Only Josef Martinez of Atlanta United in 2018 had previously achieved the triple feat of MVP, title, and Golden Boot in one year, which Messi matched in 2025.In MLS history, only four players have been MVP finalists the year after winning the award: Carlos Valderrama (1996-1997), Marco Etcheverry (1998-1999), David Villa (2016-2017), and Josef Martinez (2018-2019).Messi has committed his future to Inter Miami with a three-year contract extension. He will be present when the team opens its new stadium near Miami International Airport next season.Back-to-back MVPs are common in other major US sports leagues. Recent examples include Shohei Ohtani and Aaron Judge in baseball, A’ja Wilson in the WNBA, Nikola Jokic in the NBA, Aaron Rodgers in the NFL, and Alex Ovechkin in the NHL.

At least 23 people were injured after a powerful magnitude 7.5 earthquake struck off northern Japan late Monday and triggered a tsunami in Pacific coast communities, officials said. Authorities warned of possible aftershocks and an increased risk of a megaquake.

The quake hit at about 11:15 p.m. in the Pacific Ocean, around 80 kilometres off the coast of Aomori, the northernmost prefecture on Honshu, and prompted a tsunami warning.The US Geological Survey reported second earthquake of magnitude 5.1 early on Tuesday, about 122 kilometres south of Honcho at a depth of 35 kilometres. The Japan Meteorological Agency issued a tsunami warning, with one wave hitting a port in the northern region of Aomori, where Misawa is located.Several more waves reached the coast, measuring up to 70 centimetres, JMA reported.Early Tuesday the agency lifted the tsunami warning, according to Kyodo news agency. JMA kept lower-grade advisories in effect for parts of northern Japan for several hours, but those, too, were evenutally cancelled.About 480 residents were sheltering at Hachinohe Air Base, and 18 defence helicopters were mobilised for damage assessment, Defence Minister Shinjiro Koizumi said. NHK reported about 200 passengers were stranded overnight at New Chitose Airport in Hokkaido.

The meteorological agency cautioned about possible aftershocks in the coming days and said there was a slight increase in the risk of a magnitude 8-level quake and tsunami along Japan’s northeastern coast from Chiba to Hokkaido. It urged residents in 182 municipalities to monitor their emergency preparedness over the next week.“I’ve never experienced such a big shaking,” convenience store owner Nobuo Yamada told the public broadcaster NHK in the Aomori prefecture town of Hachinohe, adding that “luckily” power lines were still operating in his area.Satoshi Kato, vice principal of a public high school in Hachinohe, told NHK he was at home when the quake struck and watched glasses and bowls fall and smash into shards on the floor. He drove to the school, designated as an evacuation centre, and encountered traffic jams and accidents as panicked people fled. “Nobody had yet come to the school to take shelter,” he said.Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi said in brief comments to reporters that the govt set up an emergency task force to urgently assess the extent of damage. “We are putting people’s lives first and doing everything we can,” she said.Later, she urged residents in the region to pay attention to the latest information from local municipalities. “Please be prepared so you can immediately evacuate as soon as you feel a tremor.”The quake struck about 80 kilometres northeast of Hachinohe, at a depth of about 50 kilometres below the sea surface. It occurred near the same area that suffered a magnitude 9.0 quake and tsunami in 2011 that killed nearly 20 000 people and destroyed the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant.(Inputs from agencies)

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has unveiled a revamped 15-member squad for the upcoming five-match T20I series against Sri Lanka, with young talents G Kamalini and Vaishnavi Sharma receiving their maiden call-ups. The series marks India’s first international outing since clinching their historic maiden Women’s World title last month, adding further excitement to the home campaign beginning December 21.

G Kamalini and Vaishnavi Sharma take their first big step

In a clear sign of India’s growing trust in its youth pipeline, wicketkeeper-batter Kamalini and teenager Vaishnavi have broken into the senior setup after standout displays at the Under-19 Women’s T20 World Cup earlier this year. Both were pivotal to India’s campaign in Malaysia and were subsequently named in the tournament’s best XI—an achievement that kept them firmly on selectors’ radar.

Kamalini, who made her WPL debut for Mumbai Indians earlier this year, has been chosen as the secondary wicketkeeper. Her rapid progression comes at a crucial time, with regular keeper Yastika Bhatia currently in rehab following an ACL injury sustained ahead of the 2025 ODI World Cup. Kamalini’s sharp glovework and improving batting consistency have made her a strong contender for long-term grooming.

Vaishnavi, at just 19, has been one of the most promising spin prospects in the domestic circuit. The left-arm spinner dominated the Senior Women’s T20 Trophy, finishing as the tournament’s leading wicket-taker with 21 dismissals in 11 games at a remarkable economy rate of 4.5. Her accuracy, flight variation, and temperament under pressure played a major role in Madhya Pradesh’s run to the final.

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Shafali Verma retains her spot; several players miss out

Shafali Verma continues to be backed by the selectors after a prolific run in domestic cricket, which also earned her a last-minute place in the ODI squad ahead of the World Cup semifinal. Her power-hitting remains a crucial asset in India’s top order as they prepare for a busy T20 calendar leading into next year.

However, India have made notable exclusions compared to their previous T20I series in England. Sayali Satghare, Radha Yadav, and Shuchi Upadhyay have been omitted to make way for the returning Renuka Singh Thakur and the new entrants. Seamers Arundhati Reddy, Kranti Gaud, and Sree Charani retain their spots after steady performances.

Captain Harmanpreet Kaur and vice-captain Smriti Mandhana will continue to lead a balanced unit comprising experience and youth across departments.

The much-anticipated series gets underway on December 21 in Visakhapatnam, which will also host the second T20I. The teams will then shift to Thiruvananthapuram for the remaining three matches, promising packed stadiums and high-stakes cricket as India resume action post their world title triumph.

India’s squad for the T20I series vs Sri Lanka

Harmanpreet Kaur (C), Smriti Mandhana (VC), Deepti Sharma, Sneh Rana, Jemimah Rodrigues, Shafali Verma, Harleen Deol, Amanjot Kaur, Arundhati Reddy, Kranti Gaud, Renuka Singh Thakur, Richa Ghosh (WK), G Kamalini (WK), Sree Charani, Vaishnavi Sharma.

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This article was first published at WomenCricket.com, a Cricket Times company.

Hardik Pandya plays a shot during the first T20 International cricket match between India and South Africa in Cuttack, India, Tuesday, Dec. 9, 2025. (AP)

Ace all-rounder Hardik Pandya returned to competitive cricket with a half-century that helped India reach 175/6 in the first T20I against South Africa on Tuesday.Playing his first match after 74 days, Pandya came back following a left quadricep injury that had ruled him out of the Asia Cup. He walked in at No. 6 and changed the pace of the innings.

India lost six wickets across the powerplay and middle overs. Pandya, who had shown his fitness earlier by scoring an unbeaten 77 off 42 balls for Baroda in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy, took on the South African bowlers and finished on 59 not out off 28 balls.This was his sixth fifty in T20 internationals.Pandya began by hitting two sixes off Keshav Maharaj after Tilak Varma was dismissed for 26. He then scored 17 runs in an over from Anrich Nortje, including a four off a 149kph delivery. Marco Jansen bowled short balls, but Pandya responded with a pull shot before moving close to his half-century. He later hit a six and a four off Lutho Sipamla, who finished with figures of 2/38, in the 19th over.Pandya reached his fifty in 25 balls with a six over third man off Nortje in the final over. He acknowledged the milestone with a brief raise of the bat.India scored 53 runs in the final five overs. Nortje, playing his first match after injury, gave away 41 runs in four overs, including 12 in the last over.

Pandya becomes fourth Indian to smash 100 T20I sixes

Pandya’s innings included six fours and four sixes. With this knock, he became the fourth Indian batter to hit 100 sixes in T20 internationals.He joined Rohit Sharma (205), Suryakumar Yadav (155), and Virat Kohli (124) on the list. KL Rahul is next with 99 sixes.