Visakhapatnam: India’s Yashasvi Jaiswal with teammate Virat Kohli (PTI Photo/Shailendra Bhojak)

MUMBAI: A mouth-watering contest between two of India’s leading players — opener Yashasvi Jaiswal and premier pacer Mohammed Siraj — is set to light up the Mumbai-Hyderabad clash as both teams begin their campaigns in the knockout stage (to be played in a Super Four format) of the Syed Mushtaq Ali T20 Trophy at the Maharashtra Cricket Association Stadium in Gahunje, Pune, on Friday.Mumbai will be buoyed by the presence of Jaiswal, who smashed his maiden, match-winning ODI century (116 not out off 89 balls) against South Africa in the third and final ODI at Visakhapatnam on Saturday.

Siraj, who was rested from the white-ball leg of South Africa’s ongoing tour of India after featuring in all four home Tests this season, will meanwhile be keen to underline his value in the T20 format. The 31-year-old played Hyderabad’s final league match of SMAT, taking 1 for 15 in four overs against Uttar Pradesh at Eden Gardens, Kolkata, to play a key role in his side’s three-wicket win.Jaiswal, who joined the squad on Thursday, has replaced young opener Ayush Mhatre, currently leading the India Under-19 team in the U-19 Asia Cup in Dubai, in the Mumbai side. Mhatre had struck two centuries in the SMAT league stage. Siraj, it is learnt, travelled to Pune from Hyderabad on Thursday and is expected to feature in Friday’s match.Both Mumbai and Hyderabad qualified for the knockouts in style. Mumbai topped Elite Group A with six wins in seven matches to finish with 24 points, while Hyderabad registered five wins in seven games to top Elite Group B with 20 points.The Mumbai-Hyderabad match will begin at 4:30 pm and will be streamed live on JioHotstar.Mumbai will face Haryana in their second Super Four match at the Dr DY Patil Academy ground in Ambi on December 14, before taking on Rajasthan on December 16 at Gahunje in their final Super Four fixture. The final will be played on December 18.

International Olympic Committee President Kirsty Coventry delivers her speech during the Milan Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics cauldron lighting, in front of the Quirinale Presidential Palace, in Rome, Friday Dec. 5, 2025. (AP Photo/Gregorio Borgia)

GENEVA: The IOC took a big step toward reintegrating Russia and Belarus into world sports Thursday by advising governing bodies to let the countries’ youth teams and athletes compete with their full identity of national flag and anthem.Athletes have “a fundamental right to access sport across the world, and to compete free from political interference or pressure from governmental organizations,” the International Olympic Committee said in a statement.That message in support of athletes will be welcomed in Russia and Israel, whose athletes have faced recent discrimination, and comes less than three years out from the 2028 Los Angeles Summer Games that risks facing political crosswinds in the United States.The updated strategy on Russia was set at a so-called Olympic Summit – a meeting chaired by IOC president Kirsty Coventry that invites key stakeholders from the Olympic family.“It was recognized that implementation by the stakeholders will take time,” the IOC said in a statement, adding that each sport’s governing body should decide how to define youth events.Some sports bodies likely will face resistance from their national member federations, especially in Europe, to the updated IOC advice which repeats that Russia should still not be picked to host international events.The IOC’s latest move to ease the sporting isolation of Russia can apply to its own Youth Olympic Games which are held next year in Dakar, Senegal, from Oct. 31 to Nov. 13. The Russian Olympic body is still formally suspended by the IOC and currently could not compete with its national identity. “The above principles should apply to the Dakar 2026 Youth Olympic Games, and are recommended for adoption by all governing bodies and international sports event organizers for their own youth events,” the IOC said.Russian teams have been fully excluded from international soccer, track and field and other sports since the full military invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, while Russian and Belarusian athletes in winter sports are now starting to return with neutral status ahead of the Milan Cortina Olympics in February.A small group of Russian and Belarusian athletes competed as neutrals without their national identity at the Paris Summer Games last year, where those countries were banned from team sports. A previous attempt to enable Russia’s potential return to youth sports was met with strong pushback by European soccer federations including Ukraine in September 2023.European soccer body UEFA moved to reintegrate Russian Under-17 teams into its competitions but dropped its policy within weeks amid boycott threats by at least 12 of the 55 member federations.

Bangladesh A team cricketer Tofael Ahmed Raihan is facing charges of sexual assault against a young woman who claims he promised to marry her. The police have filed formal charges at Gulshan Police Station against the pace-bowling all-rounder, according to a report from Cricbuzz.“The charge sheet has been filed under Section 9(1) of the Women and Children Repression Prevention Act,” confirmed the investigating officer, Sub-Inspector Md Samiul Islam of Gulshan Police Station, on Thursday (December 11).

The charge sheet indicates the allegations were supported by the victim’s statement, hotel records, medical examination results, and additional evidence.The case will proceed with its next hearing on December 30, when the charge sheet will be presented in court.The case documents reveal that Tofael initiated contact with the woman through Facebook in January 2025. Their social media conversations evolved into a romantic relationship after he promised marriage.According to the complaint, Tofael took the woman to a Gulshan hotel on January 31, presenting her as his wife, where he allegedly committed non-consensual acts. He continued to promise marriage afterward.The woman reported that Tofael subsequently assaulted her multiple times but refused her requests to fulfill his marriage promise. She filed her case at Gulshan Police Station on August 1.The High Court granted Tofael six weeks of anticipatory bail on September 24. The court ordered him to surrender to the Women and Children Repression Prevention Tribunal before the bail expired.Tofael did not comply with the court’s surrender order. Instead, he participated in a six-a-side tournament in Hong Kong as part of the Bangladesh A team after receiving his anticipatory bail.The police have collected substantial evidence to support the charges, including hotel documentation, medical reports, and witness statements. The case continues to develop as legal proceedings move forward.

A fan displays tickets of Lionel Messi’s ‘GOAT Tour India 2025’ in Kolkata. (PTI Photo)

Lionel Messi will touch down in Hyderabad on Saturday for the city’s most high-profile sporting event of the year — and for fans, the chance of a lifetime comes with a staggering price tag. As per reports, organisers of The GOAT India Tour have announced that a photograph with the Argentine icon will cost Rs 9.95 lakh plus GST, with only 100 exclusive slots available, as per . The premium meet-and-greet will be hosted at the iconic Falaknuma Palace, and bookings are live on the District app.Go Beyond The Boundary with our YouTube channel. SUBSCRIBE NOW!Messi is scheduled to land in Hyderabad at 4 PM before heading to Uppal Stadium for a grand three-hour programme starting at 7 PM. Joining him will be World Cup–winning teammate Rodrigo De Paul and long-time strike partner Luis Suárez, adding more star power to the evening.

The stadium event will kick off with a 20-minute exhibition match between Singareni RR-9 and Aparna Messi All Stars. Fifteen children — including ten talented youngsters without access to formal training — will get a chance to participate, with Telangana Chief Minister Revanth Reddy set to join the final five minutes.A major highlight will be a football clinic led by Messi, who serves as a UNICEF ambassador. Children will receive hands-on guidance from Messi, De Paul and Suárez, who will also participate in a special penalty shootout segment. The event will conclude with a felicitation ceremony for Messi by the Chief Minister.According to Parvathi Reddy, advisor to The GOAT Tour Hyderabad, all ticket categories for the stadium programme are available through the District app. She confirmed that no cricketers have been invited and that the evening will also include a musical concert. Messi is expected to stay at the stadium for about an hour and will spend the night in Hyderabad before departing for Mumbai on Sunday.Reddy emphasised that the Hyderabad leg will revolve around the football clinic aimed at inspiring young players. “Messi, Rodrigo and Luis Suárez will train children and give them tips. The clinic is the core of this event,” she said.Messi’s India tour covers four major cities — Kolkata, Hyderabad, Mumbai, and Delhi — offering fans across the country a rare chance to see one of football’s greatest icons up close.

Smriti Mandhana (Video grab)

NEW DELHI: India vice-captain Smriti Mandhana made her first public appearance on Wednesday after calling off her wedding with musician Palash Mucchal, choosing the Amazon Smbhav Summit stage to speak not about the turbulence in her personal life but about the unwavering force that continues to define her — cricket. Calm, composed and extremely clear about what fuels her, Mandhana offered an emotional reflection on her journey, her motivation and the power of wearing the India jersey.Go Beyond The Boundary with our YouTube channel. SUBSCRIBE NOW!Mandhana said that over 12 years of international cricket have taught her one life-defining truth: nothing comes close to the love she feels for the sport. That conviction came through in a dramatic passage that soon went viral. “The love for the game… I don’t think I love anything in life more than cricket,” she said. “When you go out to bat or represent your country, no other thoughts exist. When you put on the Indian jersey, the only thing you want to do is win the match for India. Once you put on the jersey, you just keep all your problems aside because you are one of 2 billion people representing the country. That thought alone gives you razor-sharp focus.”

The remarks carried added weight because this was Mandhana’s first public appearance since she confirmed on Sunday that her wedding had been called off. In her Instagram statement, she had urged privacy for both families while reaffirming her commitment to representing India “for as long as possible.” At the event, she stayed away from any personal references, instead speaking deeply about the emotion and purpose attached to her cricketing journey.Mandhana described her childhood dream of becoming a world champion and the years of struggle that culminated in India’s World Cup triumph last month. She recalled how the team had visualised the final, how seeing the moment unfold gave them goosebumps, and how the presence of legends Mithali Raj and Jhulan Goswami added a layer of emotion that made the victory feel like a milestone for women’s cricket itself.WATCH: Smriti’s first public appearance after calling off weddingShe also spoke candidly about the internal dynamics of the team, saying disagreements are healthy because they come from a shared passion to win. Every player, she said, has an opinion on how India can win, and those discussions — not arguments — are what make the team stronger.Mandhana concluded by sharing the two biggest lessons cricket has taught her: every innings begins from zero, and the game is always bigger than the individual. She said playing for the person next to her — not for herself — is a value that shapes not only cricket but life beyond it. Her words, delivered in her first appearance since a deeply personal decision, reinforced a single message: her purpose remains unchanged, and her love for the Indian jersey remains her strongest anchor.

India’s Yashasvi Jaiswal (AP Photo/Mahesh Kumar A.)

Yashasvi Jaiswal says that the Indian dressing room often feels unsettled whenever Rohit Sharma doesn’t pull up the younger players on the field. The left-handed opener revealed that Rohit’s on-field scoldings have always come with a mix of humour and affection, which has made them a part of the team’s daily rhythm. “Every time Rohit bhai scolds us, it has a lot of love and indulgence mixed with it. In fact, if Rohit bhai isn’t scolding you, there’s a sense of unease as to what happened. Why isn’t he scolding? Has he felt bad about my action?” Jaiswal said at the ‘Agenda Aaj Tak’ conclave on Wednesday.

Jaiswal, who made a memorable impact during his maiden ODI century in Visakhapatnam, spoke about how the presence of veterans Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli always lifts the team. “When they (RoKo) are there, it is great for us as they discuss the game. They share their experiences. The intensity with which they have played and won games for India, they are like inspiration. They tell us about the mistakes they made in their younger days and how we can avoid making those mistakes,” he said. He also recounted the calm encouragement he received from Rohit during that innings. “When I was playing the third ODI, Rohit bhai told me to relax and remain calm and take time as he would take risks. How many people will do that? Similarly, Virat paaji gave me small targets and told me that we will have to win it ourselves,” Jaiswal said, describing the innings as special, on par with his century at The Oval in Tests.On the topic of the T20 World Cup, Jaiswal remained measured. “My dream is to play the T20 World Cup, but I try to focus on my game and will wait for my time,” he said when asked about India’s squad. The T20I team already looks settled for India, even though there are concerns about the form of its vice-captain Shubman Gill in the format. Opener Gill hasn’t scored a fifty in the last 16 T20I innings, with his last half-century coming in July 2024. Looking further ahead, the young southpaw expressed ambition about leading India one day. “Yes, if I get a chance, I would like to lead India,” he added.

Punjab Kings’ captain Shreyas Iyer with teammate Arshdeep Singh during the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025 cricket match between Mumbai Indians and Punjab Kings, in Jaipur. (PTI Photo)

You won’t often say this for Punjab Kings (PBKS), but going into the Indian Premier League (IPL) Auction 2026 ahead of the next season, they have one of the most settled squads in the league.The last season’s (2025) runner-up have come close to the trophy twice but have been denied to lay their hands on the silverware both times, once by Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) in 2014 and then by Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) last season.

After the disastrous 2024 season, PBKS overhauled their squad to come back strongly and had a 58.8 win percentage last year, their third best after the 2014 (70.5%) and 2008 (66.6%) seasons.PBKS have released Glenn Maxwell, Josh Inglis, Aaron Hardie, Kyle Jamieson, Kuldeep Sen, and Praveen Dubey, and have Rs 11.50 crore of purse remaining.As the IPL auction is set to be held in Abu Dhabi on December 16, here’s a look at the strengths of PBKS, the minor gaps they need to fill to make their side more formidable, and the players they would like to include in their squad.

Sarpanch and his lads – the strengths of PBKS

Among PBKS’s biggest strengths is their captain, Shreyas Iyer. Iyer holds the unique record of having led three different IPL teams to the final: Delhi Capitals (DC) in 2020, won the trophy with KKR in 2024, and then PBKS in 2025. With 50 wins in 87 matches and a win percentage of 58.82, Iyer is among the most successful captains in IPL history.PBKS also possess a very strong Indian batting core. Led by Iyer himself, PBKS have in their armoury – Prabhsimran Singh and Priyansh Arya at the top, followed by Iyer, Nehal Wadhera, and Shashank Singh.All five were among the leading run-getters for Punjab last season. While Iyer scored 604 runs at a strike rate of 175.07, Prabhsimran smashed 599 runs at 161.89. Priyansh Arya was the third-highest run getter for PBKS with 545 runs at 182.27, followed by Shashank Singh with 372 runs at 159.66, and Nehal Wadhera with 369 runs at 145.85.

Also among their strengths are the bowling options. PBKS will utilise Arshdeep Singh and Marco Jansen with the new ball – together, they took 39 wickets last season while conceding runs at 8.82 and 9.20, respectively.PBKS would hope Vijaykumar Vyshak, who was good in some matches but leaked runs in others, becomes more consistent this season at the death. Last season, Vyshak conceded 12.36 runs per over between overs 12-20. PBKS would expect better from him this season.PBKS also have New Zealand quicks Kyle Jamieson, Lockie Ferguson and Afghanistan all-rounder Azmatullah Omarzai as the pace bowling options in the squad.With Jansen, Stoinis, and Omarzai as more or less fixed overseas players, it would be hard for Jamieson and Ferguson to find a place as the fourth overseas player in the XII.Moreover, PBKS also have Yuzvendra Chahal and Harpreet Brar to trap opposition batters in the web of spin.

What PBKS will look for in the IPL auction

PBKS have a purse of Rs 11.50 crore and can buy four players, including two overseas slots.Out of the five players PBKS released, one was forced: Josh Inglis, with the Australian wicketkeeper declaring that he won’t be available to play most of the season. Apart from being the sixth highest run-getter for Punjab, Inglis was also a backup keeper for Prabhsimran Singh.PBKS have Vishnu Vinod as an India WK option, but in Inglis’s absence, Punjab will most likely look for an experienced overseas keeper-batter who can bat in the middle order of their largely inexperienced, but explosive, batting side.Two players PBKS can target to fill that gap are Jonny Bairstow and Kiwi Tim Seifert. Bairstow is someone who has previously played for Punjab (2022 & 2024) and had a decent run. In 22 innings across two seasons, he had scored 551 runs, including a century.The other area PBKS may look towards is adding a spinner or two, likely a finger spinner, into their squad as a backup option for Harpreet Brar. Last season (2025), Maxwell did a decent job with the ball in hand, conceding runs at just 8.46, but since Punjab has released him, they will be on the hunt for a backup spinner or spin all-rounder.If PBKS look overseas, Australian Cooper Connolly could be an option, who has 13 wickets at an economy of 7.73 and has scored 646 runs at a strike rate of 132.92 in 35 T20s.Punjab Kings head into the auction without the pressure of rebuilding. The core of the squad is in place, and the gaps are limited and clear. With Rs 11.50 crore available and only a few roles to address, the task is about filling those minor gaps rather than bidding aggressively. A middle-order wicketkeeper-batter and a spin backup remain the main areas to cover. How well they fill these small gaps may determine whether last season’s run to the final becomes a platform for another title push or not.

Rohit Sharma and Shubman Gill (Photo by Francois Nel/Getty Images)

The BCCI’s long-term leadership plans are slowly falling into place, and Shubman Gill now sits at the centre of it. With Gill recently appointed India’s T20I vice-captain, his elevation as the country’s all-format skipper is viewed as a matter of when, not if. Already leading the Test and ODI sides, Gill is expected to take over the T20I captaincy from Suryakumar Yadav after next year’s T20 World Cup, aligning with the board’s long-standing preference for a single captain across formats — a model followed by teams like Australia and England. India’s approach to captaincy stability has often been clear. When Rohit Sharma succeeded Virat Kohli as captain, his age meant his tenure would not be a long-term one. But Gill, still in his twenties and already a proven leader, fits the bill for a sustained run. His first Test series as captain showcased exactly why: he guided India to a 2-2 draw in the Anderson–Tendulkar Trophy and stood tall in tough conditions.

What may surprise many, though, is that Gill’s rise to the role was planned years ago. Former BCCI selector Salil Ankola revealed that as early as 2023, the board had identified Gill as a future captaincy option. That was the year Gill exploded into world cricket, reeling off centuries and double hundreds with ease, and despite missing two World Cup matches due to dengue, piling up more than 350 runs in nine outings. According to Ankola, the selectors, senior players and team management all believed Gill would eventually take charge once Rohit stepped aside. “We always knew Gill would lead India one day. He was on our radar for the captaincy back in 2023,” Ankola said on Vicky Lalwani’s YouTube channel. “Everyone — from the coach and captain to former players — felt he was the right choice.” Once Rohit retired from Test cricket, the succession became straightforward. Gill not only took the role but excelled immediately, hammering 756 runs in England at an average of 75.40 and registering four centuries in one of the finest overseas tours by an Indian captain in years. India’s struggles in the home series against South Africa during his absence further underlined how crucial he has already become — both as a run-getter and a leader. Ankola said Gill’s performance under pressure speaks volumes. “If someone can score 750 runs in England in those conditions, that tells you all you need to know about their mental strength,” he added. He also noted that public criticism is inevitable, no matter who is chosen. “People always think they know more. Even if you do great things, they will find faults.” With Gill’s trajectory continuing upward, Indian cricket now appears to have its next long-term leader firmly in place — one the selectors had earmarked long before the rest of the world noticed.

NEW DELHI: Newly elected KSCA president Venkatesh Prasad began work on Wednesday by visiting the Stadium in Belagavi and holding meetings with Karnataka chief minister Siddaramaiah and deputy chief minister DK Shivakumar to discuss steps to resume top-level cricket at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium.Prasad, along with KSCA vice-president Sujith Somasundar and secretary Santosh Menon, inspected the Belagavi stadium. Veteran administrator Vinay Mruthyanjaya was also part of the visit. KSCA Dharwad division convener Avinash Potdar joined the group as they discussed ways to improve cricket infrastructure across the state.After the inspection, Prasad said development work would extend beyond Bengaluru. “Belagavi, Shimoga, Tumakuru, Hubballi and all other centres will see development in the coming days, as our focus is to rebuild cricket and bring back the better days for state cricket,” he said, as quoted by news agency PTI.Prasad confirmed that the new KSCA management has already held discussions with the chief minister, deputy chief minister and BCCI officials on restarting major cricket at the Chinnaswamy Stadium.“During the meeting, the newly elected KSCA Managing Committee, led by Mr. Venkatesh Prasad, conveyed its commitment to extending full cooperation to the State Government. Mr Venkatesh Prasad also requested the Hon’ble CM and DCM to grant the necessary permissions to resume hosting cricket matches with spectators at the iconic M Chinnaswamy Stadium, thereby restoring top-level cricketing action to Bengaluru,” a KSCA release stated.The stadium has not hosted major matches after Women’s ODI World Cup games were moved out of Bengaluru due to the venue failing to receive required clearances.No marquee fixtures have been held at the Chinnaswamy Stadium since 11 people died in a stampede near the venue during Royal Challengers Bengaluru’s IPL title celebrations on June 4.The BCCI later staged the season-opening Duleep Trophy and India A’s two four-day matches against South Africa A at its Centre of Excellence grounds instead of the city stadium.