Alex Carey of Australia walks from the field during day four of the Second 2025/26 Ashes Series Test Match between Australia and England at The Gabba on December 07, 2025 in Brisbane, Australia. (Photo/Getty Images)

Australian wicketkeeper-batter Alex Carey said England’s mid-series break in Noosa could help them, but cautioned Australia against relaxing despite the 2-0 lead in the Ashes. Carey said memories of the 2023 Ashes in England, when Australia were unable to win the series after leading 2-0, would keep his side alert.England reached Noosa, a resort town on the Queensland coast, on Tuesday for a four-night break. They are scheduled to train three times in Adelaide before the third Test.“I think it’d be a nice holiday. It’s a pretty big series, with lots of time between games. For the Australian cricket team, we get to go home for a few days and be with families, so touring parties have got to find time to fill in those little windows,” news agency ANI reported Carey as saying, citing ESPNcricinfo.“We know England are a very good team. We also understand we were in a position like this a couple of years ago in England. We weren’t able to win that series, but we were good enough to retain the Ashes. We’re really excited for the opportunity we’ve got, but we understand we’ve got to keep playing good cricket,” he added.Carey said it was England’s call how they used the break and felt stepping away from the game could help players reset. He said the Ashes demands balance and players cannot stay focused on cricket every day.“I’m not sure you need to do it [but] it’s totally up to the touring groups to find ways to take your mind off cricket for a little bit. The Ashes is very hotly contested. You don’t want to be thinking of cricket every single day of the tour. If you do have a little break, it’s probably not a bad time to refresh the batteries,” Carey said.England’s attacking batting approach did not work in the first two Tests. They suffered a two-day defeat in Perth in the opening Test, with Travis Head playing a key role. In the second Test, Joe Root scored a century, while Zak Crawley and captain Ben Stokes spent time at the crease.After conceding a 177-run first-innings lead with a total of 511, England could not recover. Apart from a 96-run partnership between Stokes and Will Jacks, they were bowled out for 241 in the third innings, leaving Australia a target of 65, which they chased comfortably.Australia have also received a boost ahead of the third Test, with captain Pat Cummins set to return in Adelaide after recovering from a back injury. The 32-year-old has not played international cricket since the third Test against West Indies in July.Australia lead the five-match series 2-0. The third Ashes Test will be played in Adelaide from December 17.

IPL Trophy (Photo by Pankaj Nangia/Getty Images)

With the IPL 2026 mini auction approaching, several uncapped Indian cricketers are suddenly in the spotlight. Mini auctions often produce surprise millionaires, and with the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy (SMAT) 2025/26 being held just before the auction, this year’s timing has given domestic players the perfect stage to impress IPL scouts. Based on their SMAT performances, here are five uncapped players who could attract strong bids. Auqib Nabi Dar (Jammu and Kashmir) Jammu and Kashmir fast bowler Auqib Nabi Dar has quickly become one of the most talked-about names in domestic cricket. The 29-year-old has taken 15 wickets in seven matches in Elite Group B, maintaining an economy of 7.41. Known for swinging the new ball and backed by an excellent first-class record of 125 wickets in 36 matches, Nabi has reportedly been called for trials by several IPL franchises. With teams actively searching for quality Indian pacers, he may turn out to be one of the most sought-after uncapped bowlers at the auction.

Kartik Sharma (Rajasthan) Rajasthan have had a standout SMAT season, qualifying for the knockouts from Elite Group D ahead of major domestic sides like Delhi, Tamil Nadu and Karnataka. Nineteen-year-old wicketkeeper-batter Kartik Sharma has played a key role in this run. Kartik has scored 133 runs in five matches at a strike rate above 160, making important middle-order contributions. His ability to keep wickets and finish games late could make him a valuable two-in-one option for teams needing both roles covered. Tushar Raheja (Tamil Nadu) Tamil Nadu’s Tushar Raheja is another uncapped wicketkeeper-batter who has caught the eye. The left-hander has scored 151 runs in seven matches at a strike rate of 164 while opening the batting in SMAT 2025/26. He also excelled in the 2025 Tamil Nadu Premier League, where he ended as the tournament’s top scorer with a strike rate of 185. Given the shortage of explosive Indian wicketkeepers this year, Raheja is expected to be high on several teams’ lists. Anmolpreet Singh (Punjab) At 27, Anmolpreet Singh has been a consistent performer in domestic cricket for Punjab, though he has never received the hype enjoyed by teammates like Abhishek Sharma, Prabhsimran Singh, Nehal Wadhera or Ramandeep Singh. This season may change that. Anmolpreet has scored 241 runs in seven matches at a strike rate of 172, second only to Abhishek — the world’s No. 1 T20 batter — among Punjab’s run scorers. He has had short IPL stints with SRH and MI before, but he now enters the IPL 2026 auction as one of the most in-form uncapped Indian batters. Ashok Sharma (Rajasthan) Rajasthan’s 23-year-old pacer Ashok Sharma has finished the league stage of SMAT 2025/26 as the top wicket-taker, grabbing 19 wickets in seven matches. His ability to hit speeds close to 140 kmph makes him an attractive option for teams craving Indian fast-bowling depth. Ashok has also been part of IPL squads earlier, having been picked by Kolkata Knight Riders and Rajasthan Royals, which may further boost his chances of being signed again.

Hardik Pandya (PTI Photo)

NEW DELHI: India’s premier all-rounder Hardik Pandya says maintaining a positive mindset has enabled him to return to the field “stronger, bigger and better” after injury setbacks that triggered moments of self-doubt. His comeback from a near two-month break due to a left quadriceps injury played a crucial role in India’s commanding 101-run victory over South Africa in the opening T20I on Tuesday.Go Beyond The Boundary with our YouTube channel. SUBSCRIBE NOW!The 32-year-old marked his return in style, smashing an unbeaten 28-ball 59 and taking 1/16, showcasing full recovery from the injury he picked up during the Asia Cup.

“My mindset was really about coming back stronger, bigger, better. Injuries test you mentally and at the same point in time, it kind of puts a lot of doubts… and a lot of credit to the loved ones,” Pandya said in a video posted on bcci.tv.“I’ve stood strong, I’ve done a lot of things with grace and that has helped me to become even more confident, back myself and really trust my skillset… I really believe in myself as a player. I’ve always believed that if you don’t believe in yourself, how would others believe you,” added Pandya, who is set to play a key role in India’s T20 World Cup campaign in two months.He described himself as someone who relies on inner confidence and remains unaffected by outside opinions.“I think I have been a very honest, very real person in life as well, which has helped me a lot. I don’t really sugarcoat a lot of things in my life. It’s never about the other person, it’s never about how others think or how others perceive. It’s always about how I feel inside.“Now, it’s time where Hardik Pandya wants to just play the sport, enjoy every second on the ground… and bigger and better will be the motto in my life.”Pandya also said he draws energy from the crowd, which fuels his desire to perform.“You should be a rockstar. You come, perform for 10 minutes and the crowd goes berserk, I think that has been the biggest motivation for me.”He famously won over a once-hostile Mumbai crowd—upset when he took over as Mumbai Indians captain in 2024 after moving from Gujarat Titans—following his heroic T20 World Cup performance in the Caribbean.“Life has thrown a lot of lemons at me, I’ve always thought I’ll make a lemonade,” he said. “Every time I walk in, I feel like all the crowd is just waiting… they’ve come for this moment to watch me bat.”

ICC broadcast rights in jeopardy as JioStar exits. (Image: Agencies)

The development around JioStar’s ultimatum to the International Cricket Council (ICC) that it cannot service the remaining two years of the media rights contract due to “deep financial losses” conveys many things, but certainly not them exiting the deal. Like conjoined twins, the federation and the broadcaster have no choice but to follow the unique and challenging reality of their existence — they can neither afford to live with each other nor live without each other.

On one hand, cricket has only one major broadcaster in Jio Star, and on the other, cricket is JioStar’s only recourse if they need to keep their subscription game going. So, nobody’s going anywhere.

Unsustainable prices

In 2023, when Disney India bought the ICC media rights at $3.04 billion, there were a total of 179 matches for the taking over the four-year cycle. Technically speaking, Disney India bid Rs 138.7 crore per game. The cost of a single IPL game at today’s global broadcast rights value is Rs 114 crore, which JioStar has been finding it difficult to sustain. Here, we’re talking about a tournament played at India prime time, involving top Indian and global cricketers, and is perched right up there among the global sports properties. Then, how exactly at Rs 138 crore per game will the broadcaster ever be able to sustain the value of ICC cricket rights? For the record, of the 179 matches, India will play only 28 games plus knockouts, if they qualify. In 2024, when Jio was taking over Disney India, did they not know the repercussions of the deal? They did, and that is the only reason why Disney exited the India market at a discounted value. Today, having acquired those rights at a discount, Jio expects the ICC to further renegotiate, only because they know there’s no other broadcaster in the fray.

All eggs in one basket

Today, if JioStar decides to stay away from cricket rights, cricket federations – read ICC, IPL, BCCI – simply do not have a Plan B. In fact, their Plan B will be to renegotiate and come back to Plan A, which is to stick with JioStar at a discounted price. It is precisely this lack of choice that leaves the members of the ICC with no other option but to be at the mercy of the current broadcaster. The ICC has two major events coming up in 2026 and 2027 — the men’s T20 World Cup, followed by the men’s 50-over World Cup. It is to be waited and seen if the ICC members will sit across the table with JioStar ahead of these events to guarantee them a better pricing in the next rights cycle to allow the cricketing caravan to keep moving. That is clearly the only end game to this whole exercise.

What next?

The ruckus is not lost on the IPL franchises. In fact, ever since the mega merger between Jio and Disney happened, they had seen this coming. When a brand valuation and consultancy firm like Brand Finance comes out with a report that says IPL’s 2025 brand value is down by 20% — from $12b to $9.6b — one can pin it down to the broadcast rights, IPL’s biggest revenue source. In 2022, multiple bidders had fought tooth and nail to grab IPL rights, and it brought in a cash influx of Rs 48,300 cr. In 2026-27, only two broad casters will be in the fray (and one of them only for TV). What kind of a hike can the industry expect? The IPL rights stood at a billion in 2008, got sold for $2.6b in 2017 and got resold for $6.5b in 2022.

While franchises are wondering what next, the industry is speculating a five to 10% hike, no more. That’s the long and short of the media rights story.

Cuttack: India’s Hardik Pandya celebrates with Jitesh Sharma (PTI Photo/Shailendra Bhojak)

India opened their T20 World Cup 2026 preparations with a resounding 101-run victory in the first T20I against South Africa at the Barabati Stadium, powered by Hardik Pandya’s strong all-round display and a disciplined bowling performance. The win puts India 1-0 ahead in the five-match series. Chasing 176, South Africa’s innings fell apart almost immediately. Arshdeep Singh struck with his second delivery, removing Quinton de Kock for a duck. He followed it up by dismissing Tristan Stubbs in the third over, halting the batter’s early aggression. Aiden Markram and Dewald Brevis attempted to rebuild, but Axar Patel’s introduction inside the powerplay brought an instant breakthrough as the South African skipper was bowled for 14.

Hardik Pandya, returning to the national side after injury, made an impact with the ball as well. His very first delivery removed David Miller, deepening South Africa’s growing problems. The collapse gathered pace, with only Marco Jansen offering a brief counterattack through a pair of sixes before Varun Chakaravarthy ended his stay. Jasprit Bumrah then reached a personal milestone, claiming his 100th T20I wicket by dismissing Brevis, and added Keshav Maharaj moments later. Axar Patel accounted for Anrich Nortje soon after, and Shivam Dube completed the rout by removing Lutho Sipamla, as South Africa folded for just 74 in 12.3 overs, their lowest total in T20I history. Earlier in the evening, India endured a shaky start. Lungi Ngidi removed Shubman Gill in the first over and returned to dismiss Suryakumar Yadav, who briefly counterpunched with a six and a four, including his trademark supla shot. Abhishek Sharma and Tilak Varma steadied the innings to guide India to 40/2 after six overs, but Abhishek’s dismissal to Sipamla stalled the momentum again. Tilak and Axar Patel tried to build through the middle overs but struggled for rhythm. Tilak’s scratchy 26 off 32 eventually came to an end, leaving India searching for acceleration. That responsibility fell to Hardik Pandya, who played an innings of rare fluency on a pitch that gripped and slowed throughout the night. His unbeaten 59 off 28 balls, decorated with six fours and four sixes, lifted India to a competitive 175/6. Late contributions from Shivam Dube and Jitesh Sharma added valuable runs. Despite South Africa’s early breakthroughs and Jansen’s tight spells, Pandya stood out with timing and power that few others managed on the surface. His knock transformed India’s innings and ultimately shaped the course of the match. With India carrying a 1-0 advantage, the teams now travel to New Chandigarh for the second T20I on Thursday at the Maharaja Yadavindra Singh International Cricket Stadium. Brief Scores: India 175/6 in 20 overs (Hardik Pandya 59*, Tilak Varma 26; Lungi Ngidi 3/31, Lutho Sipamla 2/38) South Africa 74 all out in 12.3 overs (Dewald Brevis 22, Tristan Stubbs 14; Axar Patel 2/7, Arshdeep Singh 2/14) India won by 101 runs.

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.

Vijay Shankar (Photo by Hagen Hopkins/Getty Images)

The IPL 2026 auction has sparked discussions due to an unusual listing of Vijay Shankar, a former India all-rounder, in the uncapped players’ category. The auction, scheduled for December 16 in Abu Dhabi, features 350 shortlisted cricketers.

Shankar’s inclusion in the uncapped category is noteworthy given his previous international experience of 12 ODIs and nine T20Is for India. His classification stems from a new IPL regulation implemented before the 2025 season.The regulation states that Indian players who haven’t played in India’s starting XI across any format in the past five calendar years and don’t hold a current BCCI central contract can be classified as uncapped. This rule applies exclusively to Indian cricketers.This regulation was previously applied in the case of MS Dhoni and Sandeep Sharma, who were retained as uncapped players by Chennai Super Kings and Rajasthan Royals respectively at a capped retention salary of Rs 4 crore last year.Shankar’s recent performance has been less than impressive after being released by Chennai Super Kings following a disappointing IPL 2025 season. His Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy campaign for Tripura showed limited success, with only two scores above 30 runs in seven matches and a highest score of 50.Despite his recent form, Shankar’s base price of Rs 30 lakh makes him an economical option for teams seeking experienced players. At 34 years old, he will be listed in the seventh auction set among uncapped all-rounders.Other players in his category include Kamlesh Nagarkoti, Tanush Kotian, Auqib Nabi, Mahipal Lomror, and Prashant Veer. While Shankar may not be a first-choice player, his experience and versatility could attract teams looking for squad depth.The auction will reveal whether Shankar’s new uncapped status and experience will generate interest among the franchises. His situation has become one of the notable aspects of this year’s auction proceedings.