Rohit Sharma in Vijay Hazare opener (Photo by PTI and Screengrab)

Indian batting stalwart Rohit Sharma once again showed why he is loved not just for his cricket, but also for his humble nature. After Mumbai’s opening match in the Vijay Hazare Trophy on Wednesday, a young fan tried to touch Rohit’s feet as a mark of respect.

Rohit immediately stopped him and instead acknowledged the fan warmly. As the clip went viral on social media, the moment won many hearts.Click here to watch the viral moment of Rohit Sharma stopping the young fan from touching his feet.On Wednesday, Rohit played a brilliant innings to help Mumbai begin their Vijay Hazare Trophy campaign on a winning note in Jaipur. Mumbai defeated Sikkim by eight wickets at the Sawai Mansingh Stadium in Jaipur. Chasing a target of 237 runs, Mumbai made the task look very easy, thanks mainly to their captain. Sikkim won the toss and chose to bat first. They put up a fighting total of 236 for 7 in their 50 overs. Wicketkeeper-batter Ashish Thapa was the star for Sikkim. He scored a steady 79 runs from 87 balls and held the innings together. K Sai Satwik and Kranthi Kumar added 34 runs each, while Robin Limboo stayed unbeaten on 31. Mumbai’s bowlers did a good job in keeping the score under control. Shardul Thakur led the attack and picked up two wickets while giving away very few runs. Musheer Khan and Shams Mulani also contributed with one wicket each. Even though Sikkim’s total looked decent, it did not seem enough once Mumbai began their chase. Mumbai started carefully, with young Angkrish Raghuvanshi scoring 38 runs at a steady pace. Rohit smashed a stunning 155 runs from just 94 balls. His innings included 18 fours and nine sixes. He scored at a very fast pace and made the chase look effortless. Rohit reached his century in just 62 balls, which became the fastest List A hundred of his career. The Sikkim bowlers had no answer once Rohit found his rhythm. Musheer Khan stayed not out on 27 and supported Rohit well, while Sarfaraz Khan finished the match with a quick knock of eight runs. Mumbai reached the target in just 30.3 overs and won the match with ease.

FC Goa vs Istiklol AFC Champions League 2 match (Photo by @FCGoaOfficial on X)

FC Goa players made a strong statement during their AFC Champions League 2 match against FC Istiklol by staging a silent protest before kick-off on Wednesday at the Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium. As the referee blew the whistle for kick-off, the FC Goa players staged the pre-planned protest and did not play for a few seconds.

The protest was aimed at highlighting the “deepening uncertainty” that is affecting the Indian football ecosystem. Issues related to administration and commercial matters have caused major delays around top-tier domestic football competitions like the Indian Super League and the I-League. Players, coaches, and staff across clubs are feeling the impact of this situation. Soon after the incident, FC Goa released a statement on social media to explain their action. “This action was solely intended to draw attention to the broader challenges facing the domestic football ecosystem,” the club said in an official statement. FC Goa also made it clear that the protest was not against their opponents or the Asian Football Confederation. Instead, it was meant to show the frustration and concern felt by those involved in Indian football, who are unsure about the future of the game in the country. On the field, FC Goa started well despite the tense backdrop. The home team took the lead in the eighth minute when Dejan Drazic found space inside the box and scored with a fine curling shot into the top corner. In the second half, Istiklol made a strong comeback. A defensive mistake allowed Paul Komolafe to score the equaliser in the 53rd minute. Just three minutes later, another error led to a penalty, which Amirbek Juraboev converted to put the visitors ahead. FC Goa tried hard to score an equaliser, but their efforts did not succeed. Istiklol held on to win 2-1. The loss meant FC Goa finished last in Group D with zero points from six matches in their first-ever AFC Champions League 2 campaign.

Shayan Jahangir and Jordan Cox struck commanding half-centuries as defending champions Dubai Capitals sealed a playoff berth with a convincing six-wicket victory over Sharjah Warriorz at the Dubai International Stadium on Christmas Eve.Chasing a modest 135, the Capitals cruised to the target with ease. Jahangir set the tempo early, while Cox anchored the chase with an unbeaten 61 off 50 balls, laced with six fours and a six. His knock earned him the green belt and took him to the top of the tournament’s run charts.

After the early loss of Sediqullah Atal, Jahangir and Cox stitched together a decisive 76-run stand. Sikandar Raza briefly pulled the Warriorz back into the contest with two quick wickets in the 14th over, dismissing Jahangir and Mohammad Nabi, but the damage had already been done. Taskin Ahmed removed Leus du Plooy late, though Cox calmly finished the chase with five balls to spare.Go Beyond The Boundary with our YouTube channel. SUBSCRIBE NOW!Earlier, Dubai Capitals’ bowlers delivered a disciplined performance to restrict Sharjah Warriorz to 134/8. Haider Ali and Waqar Salamkheil claimed two wickets apiece, with Haider conceding just 13 runs in his four overs. David Willey, Mustafizur Rahman and Mohammad Nabi chipped in with a wicket each.

Shayan Jahangir in action for the Dubai Capitals

Sharjah’s innings never gained momentum despite a steady knock from Johnson Charles. A sharp run-out by Willey removed Monank Patel early, while Jahangir impressed behind the stumps to stump Tom Kohler-Cadmore. Late contributions from Adil Rashid and Harmeet Singh lifted the Warriorz to a competitive but insufficient total.Player of the Match Jordan Cox praised Jahangir’s aggressive intent. “It was quite tough against spin, but when the seamers came on, we tried to put them under pressure. Jahangir was very impressive. We’ve been encouraging him to be aggressive, and it was great to watch from the other end. For me, it was about not leaving it to the next man,” he said.

Haider Ali of Dubai Capitals celebrates the wicket of Tom Kohler-Cadmore

Sharjah skipper Tim Southee admitted his own over proved costly but insisted their playoff hopes remain alive.“My Over towards was defining. We had to keep taking wickets to be in with a chance. The nature of the wickets is keeping sides in it for long. Not over for us. One game left, we win that and give ourselves a chance.”

Brief Scores Sharjah Warriorz: 134/8 in 20 overs (Johnson Charles 43, Monank Patel 24; Haider Ali 2/13, Waqar Salamkheil 2/29) Dubai Capitals: 138/4 in 19.1 overs (Shayan Jahangir 51, Jordan Cox 61 not out; Sikandar Raza 2/15)

Ben Duckett (right) during an England training session on December 25, 2025 in Melbourne. (Getty Images)

England’s Ashes tour has been engulfed by controversy off the field, but former captain Michael Vaughan has urged restraint, arguing that outrage over the team’s mid-series beach break in Noosa misses the bigger picture of cricket’s long-standing culture.Go Beyond The Boundary with our YouTube channel. SUBSCRIBE NOW!Captain Ben Stokes faced pointed questions on Wednesday after British media reports likened England’s downtime between the second and third Tests to a “stag-do”, with unverified social media footage appearing to show opener Ben Duckett drunk and disoriented. Stokes did not address the specific allegations, instead stressing that player welfare was his overriding concern as England prepare for the fourth Test in Melbourne.

England cricket chief Rob Key has since pledged to investigate the claims, while the ECB said it is intent on establishing the facts.Writing in his Telegraph column, Vaughan cut through the noise with a blunt defence of the players. “I am not going to criticise England for what they got up to in Noosa,” Vaughan wrote. “I criticise what they do on the cricket field, the way they play, and the way they prepare to play cricket.”Vaughan admitted the footage was not flattering, but said singling out Duckett was unfair. “I am not going to point the finger at a group of young people who have had a few beers on a couple of days off,” he said. “I did exactly the same as them when I played for England, although I did at least know when it was time to go home, and that is probably what Ben Duckett needs to learn.”

The former skipper then added that it is a systemic issue rather than an individual failing. “Duckett should not be reprimanded at all on the evidence we have seen, and neither should the other players,” Vaughan argued. “It is a wider issue: the game of cricket has created this drinking culture.”According to Vaughan, this culture is not unique to England. “England, Australia, New Zealand and South Africa all have the same culture,” he wrote. “You give a group of young people three or four days off to relax, and they’re going to do something like this.”

Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma

NEW DELHI: Former India spinner Ravichandran Ashwin has weighed in on the growing frustration among fans over the limited television coverage of the Vijay Hazare Trophy 2025–26 group-stage matches, saying the disappointment is understandable but urging supporters to appreciate the logistical constraints faced by the BCCI.Go Beyond The Boundary with our YouTube channel. SUBSCRIBE NOW!The domestic one-day tournament began on Wednesday with rare star power, as India stalwarts Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli returned to the domestic circuit after years. Rohit turned out for Mumbai and Kohli for Delhi, lighting up the competition with big hundreds. Yet, to the dismay of fans, several marquee fixtures — including those featuring the two superstars — were not televised.

Speaking on his YouTube channel, Ashwin acknowledged the anger among supporters desperate to watch their heroes.“Fans are asking what the hell? Only Elon Musk can telecast these matches on X,” Ashwin said with a smile. “Everyone wants to follow Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli, no doubt. They had a great series and will be facing New Zealand next. They both have turned up, and turned up how! One scores 150 and the other 130, both with incredible strike rates. When players like these come and play, the matches become more exciting.”Rohit smashed a breathtaking 155 off just 94 balls for Mumbai against Sikkim, smashing 18 fours and nine sixes. Kohli was equally dominant, scoring 131 off 101 deliveries for Delhi against Andhra, including 14 fours and three sixes.

However, Ashwin also came to the defence of the BCCI, explaining that broadcasting decisions are made well in advance and cannot always account for late selection calls.“Everyone wants to see Rohit and Virat in action, sure. But we have to see how early they got the information that Rohit and Virat will play,” he said. “When the international calendar is given, the domestic calendar is given at the same time. Once it is set, the BCCI and broadcasters decide which venues are easy to cover and which matches can be televised.”Ashwin stressed that last-minute changes are rarely feasible. “So the conversation was Rohit and Virat will play, but when? Making that last-minute switch is difficult,” he said.While sympathising with fans, Ashwin underlined the broader reality of Indian domestic cricket. “I can understand the frustration. But there are limitations,” he said. “India has the maximum first-class teams. You cannot televise all matches. Other players also want to showcase their talent and are equally important to the ecosystem. I think we should cut some slack there.”

Players of Alpine SG Pipers pose with trophy after winning the Global Chess League 2025. (PTI Photo)

NAGPUR: Two of the three Global Chess League (GCL) debutants, and three Candidates who will soon become opponents, took time to settle into their groove. Once they started gelling well, they underlined their supremacy in the third edition of the world’s first and official franchise-based team tournament in Mumbai on Tuesday.Go Beyond The Boundary with our YouTube channel. SUBSCRIBE NOW!The fast-paced rapid chess tournament featured 36 rated players, including 14 of the world’s top 15 masters, divided into six mixed-gender teams. World rapid No. 6 Fabiano Caruana replaced top-ranked Magnus Carlsen in the Pipers’ outfit and made his debut in the league alongside Indian prodigy Leon Luke Mendonca.

While Pipers hogged the limelight, the concluding day saw four games played between the two Indian World Champions — Vishy Anand and D Gukesh. When Gukesh was asked about playing four games in a day against his great Indian predecessor, he said “It’s tricky to play against him is what I realised. It’s like you are playing against God, I have always seen him like that. The killer instinct is tough to bring against him. I just have too much respect for him.”The champion team also had three players who qualified for the Candidates tournament. The 10-day friendship and team bonding between Piper’s top three — American Grandmaster Caruana, fivetime Dutch champion Anish Giri, and India’s Rameshbabu Praggnanandhaa — will turn into rivalry from Friday when they compete in the World Rapid and Blitz championships in Doha.All three will also be fighting against each other during the Candidates next year, from where the challenger to Gukesh will be identified. The trio was a bit hesitant to share their ideas before the start of the GCL. But once they started sharing pleasantries, Caruana, Giri, and Pragg played like a united bunch along with world women’s No. 1 Hou Yifan to emerge triumphant.On his debut, Caruana said, “We’re playing a team event, which is rare and fun. There’s responsibility to perform for your team, and even if things don’t go your way individually, your team can support you. It’s a great format.”Pragg added, “It feels great. I’ve been part of this team for three years, and after missing out earlier, we finally made it this year — by just one point. It’s a strong support system.”

By noon on Wednesday, Vaibhav Suryavanshi scored 190 off 84 balls for Bihar against Arunachal Pradesh, featuring a 36-ball century and the fastest 150 in List A cricket overtaking legends like AB de Villiers and Jos Buttler.Of course, he was among the top trends on X in India.Go Beyond The Boundary with our YouTube channel. SUBSCRIBE NOW!BCCI president Mithun Manhas headlined the cheerleading by posting: “Record Alert: Bihar posted a total of 574/6 in 50 overs against Arunachal Pradesh at the JSCA Oval Ground, Ranchi, today, recording the highest team total in the history of List A cricket. The previous record was 502/2, scored by Tamil Nadu against Arunachal Pradesh at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium, Bengaluru, on Nov 21 2022, during the Vijay Hazare Trophy.”

At the age of 14, Suryavanshi is no stranger to social-media fame. His effort came on a day when Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma both scored centuries in the Vijay Hazare Trophy against Andhra and Sikkim respectively, and Ishan Kishan recorded a 33-ball hundred for Jharkhand against Karnataka, only for his team to lose despite posting 412 for 9. There were 22 tons scored on Wednesday. 10 totals were over 300. Two totals over 400 and one over 500.But it was Arunachal Pradesh’s 397-run defeat that highlighted the gulf in quality between established teams and the newer northeastern sides. Earlier this season, Meghalaya’s Akash Kumar hit eight consecutive sixes against Arunachal in the Ranji Trophy. Since the induction of the new state teams in 2018, the frequency of such one-sided records has raised questions about the domestic structure’s competitiveness.Suryavanshi has emerged as a prized asset for the BCCI after a standout IPL season. Yet, he plays in the Plate Group alongside the northeastern teams, many of whose players lack formal training infrastructure. These sides were granted First-Class status by a Supreme Court-appointed committee of administrators (CoA) in 2018. The BCCI has been working on providing top-class facilities in these states since.

Over the past two years the BCCI has sought to restore domestic cricket’s stature as a premier breeding ground for talent. However, it needs to be seen if a generational talent like Suryavanshi gains meaningful experience against largely amateur opposition.“I would like to believe Suryavanshi is mature enough by now to understand the value of these runs against such weak opponents. The BCCI’s centre of excellence (CoE) has to play a critical role in his development. BCCI has done well by giving him exposure in the recent Rising Stars Asia Cup,” former national selector and BCCI General Manager of Cricket Operations Saba Karim told TOI. “The Northeastern states will take a long time to come up to a basic standard of competition. They should only play T20 cricket at the top level to get exposure to high-quality cricket. And for Bihar to make it to the Elite group consistently, the system there also needs to develop, which will not happen overnight.”Devang Gandhi, who was a national selector when the new teams were inducted, said: “As selectors, you will never take these records into account. BCCI has to be proactive. It has to create a parallel system for talented players like Suryavanshi coming from these states.”“For Suryavanshi’s growth, he needs to play tough First-Class cricket. At the moment, he is only playing white-ball cricket. BCCI will have to find a way where Suryavanshi has exposure to top-class red-ball cricket. It shouldn’t be the case where the hours he is putting in domestic cricket are becoming meaningless. At his age, bad habits in the game can creep in easily if he is exposed to poor quality cricket for a long time,” Gandhi added.

Former India opener WV Raman, a former coach at the National Cricket Academy, recommended that the CoE field its own team in domestic competitions so that emerging talent receives sustained high-quality exposure. “You can’t say these runs are meaningless because these teams are part of the system. But, something needs to be done about the current structure of domestic cricket. The CoE can have its own team in domestic cricket. Then a lot of talented players stay in the system, playing top-class cricket,” Raman told TOI.Beyond structural changes, the board must intensify its development efforts in the northeastern states, where extravagant match fees are yet to translate into improved performance. “There are certain teams that have their lead performers who are outstation players. That isn’t helping the growth of cricket in the region. More local players from these states to stand out. Only then will the standard of cricket rise,” Gandhi reckoned.Raman also suggested that veteran former India players who tailor their domestic appearances around IPL commitments be encouraged to mentor players in these states. “There are veteran former India players who pick and choose domestic matches just to stay in shape for the IPL. BCCI can encourage them to take up mentorship roles with these states and pay them for their services. That way they can also pick and choose their own matches besides passing invaluable experience to the players,” he said.