NEW DELHI: Football legend Lionel Messi on Tuesday departed Jamnagar after visiting Vantara, the wildlife rescue and conservation centre, bringing the curtain down on his much-celebrated GOAT India Tour 2025. Hosted by Anant Ambani at Vantara, the visit marked Messi’s final stop before his exit from the country, capping a tour that drew massive crowds and unprecedented attention across four major Indian cities.Go Beyond The Boundary with our YouTube channel. SUBSCRIBE NOW!Jamnagar followed a whirlwind itinerary that took the Argentine icon to Kolkata, Hyderabad, Mumbai and Delhi, with each stop offering fans a rare glimpse of the World Cup-winning superstar. The national capital hosted the grand finale of the tour, where an on-field programme at Arun Jaitley Stadium served as a fitting conclusion amid huge fan enthusiasm.

Messi arrived in Delhi on December 15 along with former Barcelona teammates Luis Suarez and Rodrigo De Paul after completing engagements in Mumbai. The highlight of the Delhi leg was a celebrity football match between the Minerva Messi All Stars and the Celebrity Messi All Stars. Messi later stepped onto the field for a brief interaction with players from both teams and spent time with young footballers, exchanging passes with Suarez and De Paul in moments that left aspiring talents awestruck.The Delhi event concluded with a stage ceremony attended by Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta and several prominent dignitaries, including ICC chairman Jay Shah, DDCA president Rohan Jaitley and former India football captain Bhaichung Bhutia. Jay Shah presented specially curated Indian cricket jerseys to Messi, Suarez and De Paul, while Messi also received a commemorative cricket bat signed by legendary Indian cricketers.Earlier in the tour, Messi graced Mumbai’s Wankhede Stadium, where he met Indian football great Sunil Chhetri and cricket icon Sachin Tendulkar. In Hyderabad, he took part in a 7-on-7 exhibition match at the Rajiv Gandhi International Cricket Stadium, interacted with Chief Minister Revanth Reddy and met Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi.The tour began in Kolkata but ended amid controversy, with fans expressing frustration over pitch-side overcrowding that limited their view of the football icon. Despite that rocky start, Messi’s GOAT India Tour 2025 concluded as a landmark moment for Indian football fandom, leaving behind memories few will forget.

IND vs MAS Live Score, ACC Men’s U19 Asia Cup 2025: India will lock horns with Malaysia in their third Group A fixture of the ACC Under-19 Asia Cup at The Sevens Stadium in Dubai today, with momentum firmly on the former’s side. Dominant victories over UAE and Pakistan have already sealed India’s place in the semifinals, while Malaysia, winless so far, sit at the bottom of the table but are still technically in the race.

The spotlight once again shines on teenage batting prodigy Vaibhav Suryavanshi. The 14-year-old grabbed global attention with a sensational 171 off 95 balls against UAE — the highest-ever individual score in U19 Asia Cup history and India’s second-highest in youth ODIs. His innings powered India to a record 433/6 and a crushing 234-run win. However, expectations were tempered when he managed just five runs against Pakistan, despite India cruising to a comprehensive 90-run victory powered by disciplined bowling from Kanishk Chouhan and Deepesh Devendran.

Malaysia believe they can exploit that opening. Captain Deeaz Patro and all-rounder Muhammad Aalif have revealed specific plans to counter Suryavanshi, stressing disciplined bowling and smart field placements. Deeaz, who has strong Indian roots through his Odisha-born father and idolises David Warner, wears jersey No. 31 in tribute to the former Australian opener. Aalif, meanwhile, draws inspiration from Virat Kohli’s aggression and mindset.

While India may rotate players and focus on combinations, Malaysia are motivated to challenge the tournament favourites and make the contest memorable.

NEW DELHI: The Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026 will begin on March 26 (Thursday) and conclude on May 31 (Sunday), with the dates emerging as the central takeaway from a meeting between franchise representatives and IPL authorities in Abu Dhabi on Monday evening, as per a Cricbuzz report. The confirmation of the Season 19 window brings clarity to teams planning their campaigns, even as uncertainty continues to loom over the venue for the opening match.Go Beyond The Boundary with our YouTube channel. SUBSCRIBE NOW!The dates were formally communicated by IPL CEO Hemang Amin during a briefing held ahead of Tuesday’s auction. As per tradition, the tournament opener is staged in the home city of the defending champions, which would put Bengaluru’s M Chinnaswamy Stadium in line to host the curtain-raiser featuring Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB). However, the availability of the venue remains a major talking point among franchises attending the pre-auction meeting at the W Hotel in Abu Dhabi.

The Karnataka State Cricket Association (KSCA) has received only a conditional clearance from the state government to host IPL matches at the Chinnaswamy Stadium, subject to meeting stringent safety and security requirements. The hesitation stems from the tragic stampede on June 4 during RCB’s IPL title celebrations, which claimed at least 11 lives and left several others injured. Since then, the state government has consistently denied permission for major cricket matches at the venue, forcing the BCCI to relocate Women’s World Cup fixtures away from Bengaluru.Asked about the possibility of IPL 2026 starting at the Chinnaswamy Stadium, a senior BCCI official said, “We hope so,” adding that Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar had publicly expressed optimism. Shivakumar was recently quoted as saying the government was positive about hosting IPL matches and had asked Home Minister G Parameshwara to engage with KSCA officials to address concerns.

While the schedule dominated discussions, the build-up to the IPL 2026 auction has also gathered momentum. The auction, to be held at the Etihad Arena in Abu Dhabi on Tuesday, will mark the third consecutive year the event takes place outside India, following Dubai and Jeddah. On the eve of the auction, the BCCI finalised the player pool by adding 19 names, including Bengal opener Abhimanyu Easwaran, New Zealand pacer Ben Sears and South African all-rounder Ethan Bosch.All ten franchises will be keen to assemble squads capable of challenging for the IPL 2026 title. A total of 77 slots are available, including 31 for overseas players. Kolkata Knight Riders have the most vacancies with 13, followed by Sunrisers Hyderabad with ten. From an initial list of 1,355 players, 359 have been shortlisted — 244 Indians and 115 overseas — with 40 players entering at the maximum base price of Rs 2 crore.The spotlight at the auction will be on marquee names such as Cameron Green, Liam Livingstone and Ravi Bishnoi. Green, in particular, is expected to attract aggressive bidding amid a skewed demand-supply ratio for seam-bowling all-rounders, with projections suggesting bids could cross Rs 25 crore. With the IPL 2026 schedule now locked in, franchises will hope the remaining uncertainties — especially around venues — are resolved well before the season begins.

Delhi’s worsening air quality cast a shadow over Lionel Messi’s farewell appearance in India, as a section of the crowd at the Arun Jaitley Stadium voiced its anger at the political leadership even while welcoming the global football icon. As Chief Minister Rekha Gupta stepped onto the stage on Monday to receive Messi during the final leg of the GOAT India Tour, chants of “AQI, AQI” rang out from parts of the stands. The reaction came amid hazardous pollution levels in the national capital, with the Air Quality Index touching 498 in the morning before easing slightly to 427 by evening, remaining in the ‘severe’ category for the third consecutive day. Visibility across the city dropped sharply, with a thick haze obscuring the skyline. The chants contrasted sharply with the celebratory atmosphere inside the stadium, where nearly 25,000 fans had gathered to catch a glimpse of Messi. The Delhi leg marked the conclusion of a tour that had begun chaotically in Kolkata but ended on a more organised note in the capital. Spectators packed the stands, many wearing Argentina’s blue and white jersey with the iconic No. 10, while celebrities and dignitaries watched from inside the ground. Messi, speaking briefly in Spanish, thanked the crowd for the affection shown throughout his India visit. He described the experience as intense but unforgettable, saying the love he received exceeded expectations and promising that he would return to India someday, possibly to play a match. After arriving at the stadium, Messi walked around the field smiling, watched the 7×7 celebrity match conclude, and waved repeatedly to the crowd. Alongside Inter Miami teammates Luis Suarez and Rodrigo De Paul, he kicked footballs into the stands during a lap of honour and later felicitated the Minerva Academy football team. The reception was notably freer than in Kolkata, where heavy security and political entourages had limited fan interaction. The tightly scripted 30-minute programme revolved largely around Messi. He was joined on stage by Rekha Gupta, ICC chairman Jay Shah, DDCA president Rohan Jaitley and former India football captain Bhaichung Bhutia towards the end of the event. While Messi mania dominated the evening, the chants inside the stadium underlined a growing public frustration over Delhi’s air crisis, turning a celebratory sporting moment into a pointed reminder of the capital’s ongoing environmental emergency.

Jaipur: Rajasthan Royals will head into the auction with a moderate Rs 16.05 crore purse and nine slots to fill, including one overseas position. It’s far from the largest budget available, but with key players retained and additions secured through trades, their core squad is largely in place. As a result, the remaining purse should be sufficient to address the specific gaps they still have. Their primary focus will be securing a high-quality Indian spinner. Having released their previous spin options, the Royals are prepared to bid aggressively for a leg-spinner like Ravi Bishnoi or Rahul Chahar, someone capable of controlling the middle overs alongside Ravindra Jadeja.

They will also be in the market for a dependable Indian pacer and potentially an overseas fast bowler. With Jofra Archer returning from a demanding international schedule, and his injury record remaining a concern, the franchise will prioritise building depth to ensure their pace attack stays potent throughout the season. The top order appears covered, boasting a blend of youth and flair in Yashasvi Jaiswal, teenage prodigy Vaibhav Suryavanshi, Riyan Parag and Dhruv Jurel. This means any batting additions are likely to be strategic backups. During the recent trade window, the Royals strengthened their core dramatically by acquiring all-rounders Ravindra Jadeja and Sam Curran, alongside the explosive Donovan Ferreira, moves that have significantly bolstered their flexibility. RCA’s Ashok, Kartik tipped for big deals: Twelve Rajasthan Cricket Association (RCA) players have registered for the mini-auction. Franchises are poised to show strong interest in Rajasthan’s pace sensation Ashok Sharma, whose raw speed has impressed scouts throughout the domestic season. The 23-year-old from Jaipur, currently the leading wicket-taker in the ongoing Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy with 19 scalps so far, is expected to attract significant bids as an uncapped fast bowler capable of clocking speeds in the high 140s kmph. Another promising talent from the RCA likely to spark bidding wars is 19-year-old wicketkeeper-batter Kartik Sharma. His explosive performances in the 2024–25 domestic circuit, highlighted by a century on first-class debut and consistent power-hitting, prompted trials with multiple franchises ahead of the 2025–26 season. Several established Rajasthan players, released by their IPL teams, will also enter the auction pool: middle-order batter Deepak Hooda, leg-spinner Rahul Chahar, southpaw Mahipal Lomror, keeper-batter Kunal Singh Rathore and fast bowler Kamlesh Nagarkoti. Lesser-known RCA prospects set to feature include first-class standout Ajay Singh Kookna, along with Mukul Choudhary, Izaz Sawariya, Deependra Singh and Aman Shekhawat, who could emerge as value picks for teams seeking depth.

Former India wicketkeeper-batter Deep Dasgupta believes Shubman Gill needs to redefine his role in India’s T20I side by becoming the anchor around whom the rest of the batting revolves, much like Virat Kohli did for years in the format. Gill, India’s current T20I vice-captain, returned to the shortest format during the Asia Cup and was named Suryakumar Yadav’s deputy. However, his output has not matched expectations. The Indian Test and ODI captain has scored only 291 runs from 15 T20I innings so far, a modest return for a batter of his calibre.

Dasgupta feels Gill’s value lies not in explosive strike rates but in providing stability at one end. Speaking to PTI Videos, he said most of India’s current batters are natural stroke-makers, which makes Gill’s role different and more structural. “For me, Shubman’s role is very different. If you look at the rest of the players, most of them are stroke players. That is the kind of role Virat played so well for so many years, holding one end while everyone else played around him,” Dasgupta said. He added that Gill should be seen as the pivot of the batting unit rather than someone expected to match the strike rates of others. “I see Shubman in that role Virat played. He is the fulcrum around whom the rest of the batting revolves. Not necessarily with a very high strike rate, but by being more consistent than the others,” he explained. India, the defending champions, will begin their T20 World Cup title defence against the USA in Mumbai on February 7. With limited matches left before the tournament, Dasgupta admitted there would be concern around form, particularly with both Gill and captain Suryakumar Yadav struggling for runs. “Ideally, you would want them to start firing again. If you want players to be fearless, that comes at a cost, and that cost is consistency. That is something you have to be mindful of,” he said. He acknowledged the lack of game time before the World Cup but backed the quality of the players to come good. “We would want Surya and everyone to be in form, but they are good enough. Hopefully, it is just a matter of time,” Dasgupta added. On the ongoing discussion around split coaching for India following their Test series whitewash against South Africa, Dasgupta dismissed the idea as a temporary fix. He stressed that India’s red-ball issues require a deeper and more holistic solution. “Those are band-aid solutions. Where the Indian Test team is right now, it needs a more rounded solution. Otherwise, you are just treating the symptoms, and that becomes a knee-jerk reaction,” he said. Dasgupta also weighed in on the future of senior batters Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli ahead of the 2027 World Cup, saying their ability was never in doubt. The real question, according to him, is about sustainability and workload. “They are absolute giants of the game. It would be foolish to doubt their credentials. The key is sustainability. I am glad they are playing the Vijay Hazare Trophy, and I hope they continue playing competitive cricket, both domestic and overseas, leading up to 2027,” he said. On Chennai Super Kings signing Sanju Samson, Dasgupta advised caution regarding leadership responsibilities. While he expects Samson to be part of the leadership group, he believes the franchise should allow him time to settle into the setup. “I would like to see him eased into leadership rather than being forced into it straight away,” Dasgupta concluded.

Shaheen Shah Afridi had a challenging introduction to the Big Bash League on Tuesday, as his debut for Brisbane Heat against Melbourne Renegades at Simonds Stadium turned into a testing evening. The trouble began in the 18th over of the first innings, when Afridi delivered two dangerous waist-high full tosses, one to Tim Seifert and the other to Ollie Peake. The umpires immediately called the deliveries dangerous, forcing Afridi off the field while Heat captain Nathan McSweeney had to finish the over. Afridi walked off with a wry smile, his first spell ending prematurely with figures of 0 for 43 from 2.4 overs. The over proved costly, conceding 15 runs and including three no-balls, on top of two wides earlier in his spell.

Afridi had arrived in the BBL with considerable anticipation, joining fellow Pakistan international Mohammad Rizwan, who debuted for the Renegades. The left-armer began with promise, bowling three consecutive dot balls in his second over, but struggled to maintain rhythm thereafter. When he returned in the 13th over during the Renegades’ Power Surge, he conceded 19 runs, and his final over further added to his woes, ending his night with an economy rate of 16.10. Melbourne Renegades exploited Brisbane’s bowling lapses to post a commanding 212 for 5. Tim Seifert led the charge with an authoritative 102 off 56 balls, while Ollie Peake provided late momentum, scoring 57 off 29 deliveries. Rizwan, however, failed to make a mark, managing just four runs from ten balls before falling to left-arm spinner Paddy Dooley. Despite the rough start, Afridi’s debut highlighted the challenging nature of the BBL, where even world-class international talent can be tested ruthlessly in unfamiliar conditions.

They came so close three times earlier too, close enough to see it, feel it, but not close enough to hold it. But their time came, finally, and Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) and Virat Kohli became the champions of the Indian Premier League (IPL) last season (2025) after defeating Punjab Kings (PBKS) in the final.For the first time, RCB will enter the IPL Auction, set to be held on December 16 in Abu Dhabi, with the badge of champions.Under Rajat Patidar’s captaincy, RCB produced their best IPL season. They won 11 of their 16 matches, finishing with a win percentage of 68.8 as the title drought came to an end.Ahead of the auction, RCB have released Liam Livingstone, Lungi Ngidi, Mayank Agarwal, Manoj Bhandage, Swastik Chikara, and Mohit Rathee.With Rs 16.40 crore of purse left, RCB have 8 slots remaining, 2 of them overseas, to be filled. As the auction is just around the corner, here’s a look at IPL champions’ strengths, work they need to do, and players they might look for in the auction.

Solid opening, blast finishing

Virat Kohli and Phil Salt provided RCB with good starts throughout the season and were the top two scorers for their team with 657 and 403 runs, respectively. While Salt was explosive with a strike rate of 175.98, Kohli gave RCB solidity at the top.The middle order was kept together by Devdutt Padikkal and captain Rajat Patidar, both of whom had a good season with 247 and 312 runs, respectively.But perhaps their strongest point in the batting was Tim David and Jitesh Sharma, and Romario Shepherd on some occasions, who provided RCB with blitzkrieg finishes. Tim David scored at a strike rate of 185.15, Jitesh hit 261 runs at 176.35, and in the three innings that he played, Romario struck at 291.67.

Opposition bowled over

Batting might help you win matches, but it is the bowling that wins a tournament, and it did for RCB last year. With Josh Hazelwood as their highest wicket-taker (22 wickets at an economy of 8.77), RCB had three bowlers in the top 10 highest wicket-takers’ list in the 2025 season, Bhuvneshwar Kumar (17 wickets at 9.29), and Krunal Pandya (17 wickets at 8.24) being the other two.Yash Dayal (13 wickets at 9.50), also had his set of contributions.

Things to ponder upon at the auction

RCB’s bowling depth is an area of concern. Hazlewood has already been ruled out of the Ashes, and with a T20 World Cup ahead, his workload management is a concern. Dayal has not played top-level cricket since the IPL 2025 final.RCB will almost certainly look for an overseas fast-bowling backup and a domestic seamer who can step in.New Zealand’s Matt Henry could be a like-for-like overseas option for Hazlewood.Shivam Mavi, Kartik Tyagi, Kamlesh Nagarkoti, Akash Madhwal, among others, are some of the Indian fast-bowling options RCB might look towards.Having released Liam Livingstone, it is possible that RCB may try Jacob Bethell in the middle order. Bethell played 2 matches last year and scored 67 runs at a handsome strike rate of 171.59.However, RCB may also look for an Indian explosive batter for the middle order as a backup option for Devdutt Padikkal.Additionally, there won’t be any surprise if RCB go all-in for a spinner too.With Rs 16.40 crore of purse, the IPL champions are far from a perfect side, and RCB have plenty of shopping to do in Abu Dhabi.

NEW DELHI: Bidhannagar Police Commissioner Mukesh Kumar has revealed the reasons behind the anger and chaos that erupted during the Kolkata leg of Lionel Messi‘s GOAT India Tour on December 13, pointing squarely at mismanagement by the organisers.Go Beyond The Boundary with our YouTube channel. SUBSCRIBE NOW!Kumar said the event at the Salt Lake Stadium, originally scheduled for nearly two hours, was cut short to just 20 minutes, triggering the crowd’s unrest. “When you cut a 1 hour 40-minute event to 20 minutes, this is bound to happen. It is a fallout of mismanagement. We have arrested one person and prepared a list of people to be summoned,” he said, as quoted by The Indian Express.

Satadru Dutta, chief organiser of Messi’s India tour, was arrested following the fiasco. A Bidhannagar court rejected his bail plea, and he was remanded to 14 days of judicial custody. The commissioner indicated that CCTV footage is being reviewed and more arrests are likely. “No permission for water bottles was given. The additional guest list was not given to us. Vendors, too, will be questioned. All those identified will be arrested,” Kumar said.The police chief explained how the situation escalated despite tight security. “Everything was under control until 10 am. However, the matter escalated at 11:48 am, four minutes before Messi had left the venue. The crowd started shouting ‘boo boo’, and we could sense their dissatisfaction. Messi’s security team swiftly escorted him out, and as fans saw him leave, they began throwing bottles, chairs, and other objects onto the field,” Kumar added.

Two suo motu cases have been registered against Dutta and unidentified individuals. Charges include provocation with intent to cause a riot, mischief, assault on public servants, and damage to public property under multiple sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, the West Bengal Maintenance of Public Order Act, and the Prevention of Damage to Public Property Act.Kumar’s statement highlights glaring lapses in coordination and crowd management, providing insight into why a highly anticipated return of the football superstar turned chaotic in Kolkata. The inquiry into the incident continues, with authorities vowing accountability for those responsible.

NEW DELHI: As the countdown begins for the IPL 2026 mini auction, one question continues to dominate discussions among fans and franchises alike: will teams be allowed to use the Right To Match (RTM) card in Abu Dhabi?Go Beyond The Boundary with our YouTube channel. SUBSCRIBE NOW!The auction for the 19th season of the Indian Premier League is scheduled for Tuesday, December 16, in Abu Dhabi, marking the third consecutive year the event is being staged outside India.

Following last year’s high-profile two-day mega auction in Jeddah, the IPL will now return to a mini auction format, where teams fine-tune their squads rather than rebuild from scratch.Franchises had until November 15 to finalise and announce their retained players. While some teams, including Chennai Super Kings and Kolkata Knight Riders, have chosen to significantly revamp their squads—freeing up large portions of their purse—others such as Mumbai Indians have largely backed continuity and are expected to make only selective additions.

Will franchises be allowed to use ‘Right To Match’ cards?

Despite the anticipation, the IPL Governing Council has made it clear that the RTM card will not be in play at this auction. The Right To Match option is reserved exclusively for mega auctions, where teams are allowed to retain only a limited number of players, ensuring a competitive reset across the league.First introduced ahead of the IPL 2014 mega auction, the RTM rule allowed franchises to reclaim players they had released by matching the highest bid at the auction table. The provision remained in place for the 2018 mega auction but was eventually scrapped before the 2022 season. During the previous mega auction cycle, teams were permitted to retain up to six players, either directly or via RTM cards, which led to varying strategies across franchises.In contrast, mini auctions allow teams to retain as many players as they wish beforehand, making the RTM mechanism unnecessary. As a result, franchises cannot use RTM cards to buy back released players in Abu Dhabi.For IPL 2026, team strategies will instead revolve around purse management, targeted acquisitions, and capitalising on gaps in rival squads—without the safety net of the RTM card influencing bidding dynamics.

IPL 2026 auction purse and spots to fill