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India wrapped up a strong nine-wicket win over South Africa in the third ODI in Visakhapatnam on Saturday (Dec 6), sealing the series 2-1. Yashasvi Jaiswal led the chase with his maiden ODI hundred, while Virat Kohli backed him with a steady half-century. Rohit Sharma set things up at the top, scoring a solid 75 and putting together a 155-run stand that gave India complete control. The chase was smooth throughout, and India crossed the target with 61 balls left. Earlier, South Africa posted 270, thanks to Quinton de Kock’s 23rd ODI century. But the rest of the line-up struggled, with no other batter reaching fifty. Prasidh Krishna and Kuldeep Yadav were the standout performers, grabbing four wickets each to restrict South Africa to 270 and set up India’s series-clinching win.&nbsp;Earlier, KL Rahul won the toss for the first time in 20 ODIs, and that small moment helped shape the game. With evening dew expected later, India chose to bowl first and wanted to control the early part of the match with a dry ball. Prasidh Krishna struck early and kept South Africa under pressure with his bounce and good lines. Kuldeep Yadav joined in through the middle overs, beating batters with drift and turn. Both bowlers kept breaking partnerships and never allowed South Africa to settle.&nbsp;Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/rohit-sharma-becomes-fourth-indian-to-reach-20-000-international-runs-1765029385381">Rohit Sharma becomes fourth Indian to reach 20,000 international runs</a>&nbsp;De Kock was the only one who looked in rhythm. His century held the innings together, but he kept losing partners at the other end. Once Kuldeep and Prasidh returned for their second spells, the lower order folded quickly. South Africa were bowled out in the 48th over, and the feeling at the break was that they were at least 30–40 runs short on this pitch.&nbsp;India’s reply began with control and calmness. Rohit Sharma looked fluent from the first over, timing the ball cleanly and rotating strike with ease. Jaiswal took a few overs to settle, but once he found his rhythm, he played with confidence. Rohit’s dismissal at 75 didn’t slow India down. Kohli walked in, kept the scoreboard moving and made the chase look easy with his usual timing and placement.&nbsp;Jaiswal reached his first ODI hundred with a punch through the off side, celebrating a big moment in his young career. Kohli stayed unbeaten on 65, guiding Jaiswal as India finished the chase with more than ten overs to spare.It was a complete performance from India in all departments, and the win helped them clinch the ODI series.

Yashasvi Jaiswal led the chase with his maiden ODI hundred, while Virat Kohli backed him with a steady half-century. Rohit Sharma set things up at the top, scoring a solid 75.

India wrapped up a strong nine-wicket win over South Africa in the third ODI in Visakhapatnam on Saturday (Dec 6), sealing the series 2-1. Yashasvi Jaiswal led the chase with his maiden ODI hundred, while Virat Kohli backed him with a steady half-century. Rohit Sharma set things up at the top, scoring a solid 75 and putting together a 155-run stand that gave India complete control. The chase was smooth throughout, and India crossed the target with 61 balls left. Earlier, South Africa posted 270, thanks to Quinton de Kock’s 23rd ODI century. But the rest of the line-up struggled, with no other batter reaching fifty. Prasidh Krishna and Kuldeep Yadav were the standout performers, grabbing four wickets each to restrict South Africa to 270 and set up India’s series-clinching win. Earlier, KL Rahul won the toss for the first time in 20 ODIs, and that small moment helped shape the game. With evening dew expected later, India chose to bowl first and wanted to control the early part of the match with a dry ball. Prasidh Krishna struck early and kept South Africa under pressure with his bounce and good lines. Kuldeep Yadav joined in through the middle overs, beating batters with drift and turn. Both bowlers kept breaking partnerships and never allowed South Africa to settle. Also read | Rohit Sharma becomes fourth Indian to reach 20,000 international runs De Kock was the only one who looked in rhythm. His century held the innings together, but he kept losing partners at the other end. Once Kuldeep and Prasidh returned for their second spells, the lower order folded quickly. South Africa were bowled out in the 48th over, and the feeling at the break was that they were at least 30–40 runs short on this pitch. India’s reply began with control and calmness. Rohit Sharma looked fluent from the first over, timing the ball cleanly and rotating strike with ease. Jaiswal took a few overs to settle, but once he found his rhythm, he played with confidence. Rohit’s dismissal at 75 didn’t slow India down. Kohli walked in, kept the scoreboard moving and made the chase look easy with his usual timing and placement. Jaiswal reached his first ODI hundred with a punch through the off side, celebrating a big moment in his young career. Kohli stayed unbeaten on 65, guiding Jaiswal as India finished the chase with more than ten overs to spare. It was a complete performance from India in all departments, and the win helped them clinch the ODI series.

Yashasvi Jaiswal led the chase with his maiden ODI hundred, while Virat Kohli backed him with a steady half-century. Rohit Sharma set things up at the top, scoring a solid 75.

India clinch ODI series 2-1 as Jaiswal, Rohit and Kohli shine in Vizag

India's premier winter sporting event, Royal Enfield Ice Hockey League (REIHL), is all set for another blockbuster season as the nation gears up for the latest edition. Royal Enfield, which has played a key role in nurturing ice hockey in India, will give another stage for the emerging talents in the Himalayan regions to grow. Ahead of the latest season, WION exclusively caught up with Bidisha Dey, Executive Director, Eicher Group Foundation.&nbsp;Speaking on the Royal Enfield Ice Hockey League, Bidisha opened up about how they are helping Ladakh and neighbouring regions transform not only into a centre for winter sports but also as a tourism hub. She also reflected on how the Ice Hockey League was a grand success in 2024 and 2025, with huge expectations for 2026. In an exclusive chat with WION’s Aditya Pimpale, she also discussed the future of winter sports in the nation.&nbsp;Question: In a nation that is known for cricket and other emerging sports, why is Royal Enfield focusing on Ice Hockey?You know, I keep telling everyone that ice hockey is a sport that is played by the communities we love in the Himalayas, which Royal Enfield considers its spiritual home. This sport is really close to the hearts of the people. They are the champions. It speaks of resilience, their resilience and how they have nurtured the sport.&nbsp;You know, all of this training, coaching, infrastructure is a relatively new development, right? But, but they have been playing on, they have been playing on and those stories are very, very important to us. But also, you know, we feel that for us at Royal Enfield, we've not always taken the parts that everyone else has, even as a brand.&nbsp;ALSO READ | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/from-steve-smith-to-joe-root-5-active-batters-with-most-runs-in-ashes-ben-stokes-jonny-bairstow-usman-khawaja-1762275784636">From Steve Smith to Joe Root, 5 active batters with most runs in Ashes</a>&nbsp;Question: Where did the idea of investing in ice hockey emerge?We were commissioned by the UT of Ladakh to develop this blueprint about three years ago. To do this for ice hockey in Ladakh, we needed a helping hand. The development process was a big learning curve. We also learned a lot about the sport as we worked with all the stakeholders and federations. Notably, the book was reviewed by the International Ice Hockey Federation.&nbsp;As we created that pathway, we figured out what the different components are that are needed to be able to reach that big Olympic dream in 2042. So, we are simply implementing what we put together. You know, we are trying to do what we can, and we are not the only players.&nbsp;ALSO READ | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/from-leonard-hutton-to-don-bradman-5-batters-with-highest-individual-score-in-ashes-bob-simpson-bob-cowper-ashes-2025-26-1762276944046">From Leonard Hutton to Don Bradman, 5 batters with highest individual score in Ashes</a>&nbsp;Question: Where do you see Royal Enfield's collaboration with ice hockey and everything, where do we see the sport in another 10 years' time?The 2042 Winter Olympics are what we are targeting. The blueprint says that. I don't think we've moved away from that as a big goal, big milestone. And all the work that we are putting in, and hopefully all the other stakeholders as well, will see us through. That's fingers crossed.

Ahead of the latest season of Royal Enfield Ice Hockey League, WION exclusively caught up with Bidisha Dey, Executive Director, Eicher Group Foundation.

India's premier winter sporting event, Royal Enfield Ice Hockey League (REIHL), is all set for another blockbuster season as the nation gears up for the latest edition. Royal Enfield, which has played a key role in nurturing ice hockey in India, will give another stage for the emerging talents in the Himalayan regions to grow. Ahead of the latest season, WION exclusively caught up with Bidisha Dey, Executive Director, Eicher Group Foundation. Speaking on the Royal Enfield Ice Hockey League, Bidisha opened up about how they are helping Ladakh and neighbouring regions transform not only into a centre for winter sports but also as a tourism hub. She also reflected on how the Ice Hockey League was a grand success in 2024 and 2025, with huge expectations for 2026. In an exclusive chat with WION’s Aditya Pimpale, she also discussed the future of winter sports in the nation. Question: In a nation that is known for cricket and other emerging sports, why is Royal Enfield focusing on Ice Hockey? You know, I keep telling everyone that ice hockey is a sport that is played by the communities we love in the Himalayas, which Royal Enfield considers its spiritual home. This sport is really close to the hearts of the people. They are the champions. It speaks of resilience, their resilience and how they have nurtured the sport. You know, all of this training, coaching, infrastructure is a relatively new development, right? But, but they have been playing on, they have been playing on and those stories are very, very important to us. But also, you know, we feel that for us at Royal Enfield, we've not always taken the parts that everyone else has, even as a brand. ALSO READ | From Steve Smith to Joe Root, 5 active batters with most runs in Ashes Question: Where did the idea of investing in ice hockey emerge? We were commissioned by the UT of Ladakh to develop this blueprint about three years ago. To do this for ice hockey in Ladakh, we needed a helping hand. The development process was a big learning curve. We also learned a lot about the sport as we worked with all the stakeholders and federations. Notably, the book was reviewed by the International Ice Hockey Federation. As we created that pathway, we figured out what the different components are that are needed to be able to reach that big Olympic dream in 2042. So, we are simply implementing what we put together. You know, we are trying to do what we can, and we are not the only players. ALSO READ | From Leonard Hutton to Don Bradman, 5 batters with highest individual score in Ashes Question: Where do you see Royal Enfield's collaboration with ice hockey and everything, where do we see the sport in another 10 years' time? The 2042 Winter Olympics are what we are targeting. The blueprint says that. I don't think we've moved away from that as a big goal, big milestone. And all the work that we are putting in, and hopefully all the other stakeholders as well, will see us through. That's fingers crossed.

Ahead of the latest season of Royal Enfield Ice Hockey League, WION exclusively caught up with Bidisha Dey, Executive Director, Eicher Group Foundation.

Exclusive | '2042 Winter Olympics is what we are targeting': Bidisha Dey on Ice Hockey League

Former India skipper Rohit Sharma crossed another big landmark in his long career, becoming the fourth Indian batter to score 20,000 international runs. He reached the milestone during India’s chase of 271 in the final ODI against South Africa in Visakhapatnam. Rohit needed 27 runs to get there, and once he pushed past that mark, he joined a tiny group of Indian greats.&nbsp;With this, Rohit now stands alongside Sachin Tendulkar, Virat Kohli and Rahul Dravid as the only Indians to score over 20,000 runs in international cricket. Across the world, he is the 14th player to reach the milestone. For someone who started as a middle-order batter and later became one of India’s most trusted openers, this achievement captures how far he has come.&nbsp;Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/ashes-2025-26-australia-four-wickets-away-from-victory-in-gabba-1765019933398">Ashes 2025-26: Australia four wickets away from victory in Gabba</a>&nbsp;Rohit has built most of these runs in white-ball formats. He has more than 11,000 runs in ODIs and over 4,000 in T20Is, making him one of India’s most successful limited-overs players. His T20I record stands out even more. He is India’s leading run-getter in the shortest format, scoring 4,231 runs in 159 matches. His three double hundreds in ODIs and his impact in big tournaments have already placed him among the game’s top names.&nbsp;Before this match, only Sachin Tendulkar, Virat Kohli and Rahul Dravid had crossed the 20,000-run mark for India. Sachin leads the list with 34,357 runs in 664 matches, while Kohli has 27,910 in 556 games. Dravid finished with 24,064 from 504 outings. Rohit is now the fourth to enter this club, with 20,006 runs, 50 hundreds and 110 fifties across formats.&nbsp;This milestone adds another chapter to Rohit’s story, one that includes unforgettable knocks, record-breaking hundreds and important wins as captain. At 38, he continues to give India strong starts and keeps delivering in pressure games. His calm style, clean hitting and ability to change gears quickly have made him one of the most dependable batters of his generation.

With this, Rohit now stands alongside Sachin Tendulkar, Virat Kohli and Rahul Dravid as the only Indians to score over 20,000 runs in international cricket. Across the world, he is the 14th player to reach the milestone.

Former India skipper Rohit Sharma crossed another big landmark in his long career, becoming the fourth Indian batter to score 20,000 international runs. He reached the milestone during India’s chase of 271 in the final ODI against South Africa in Visakhapatnam. Rohit needed 27 runs to get there, and once he pushed past that mark, he joined a tiny group of Indian greats. With this, Rohit now stands alongside Sachin Tendulkar, Virat Kohli and Rahul Dravid as the only Indians to score over 20,000 runs in international cricket. Across the world, he is the 14th player to reach the milestone. For someone who started as a middle-order batter and later became one of India’s most trusted openers, this achievement captures how far he has come. Also read | Ashes 2025-26: Australia four wickets away from victory in Gabba Rohit has built most of these runs in white-ball formats. He has more than 11,000 runs in ODIs and over 4,000 in T20Is, making him one of India’s most successful limited-overs players. His T20I record stands out even more. He is India’s leading run-getter in the shortest format, scoring 4,231 runs in 159 matches. His three double hundreds in ODIs and his impact in big tournaments have already placed him among the game’s top names. Before this match, only Sachin Tendulkar, Virat Kohli and Rahul Dravid had crossed the 20,000-run mark for India. Sachin leads the list with 34,357 runs in 664 matches, while Kohli has 27,910 in 556 games. Dravid finished with 24,064 from 504 outings. Rohit is now the fourth to enter this club, with 20,006 runs, 50 hundreds and 110 fifties across formats. This milestone adds another chapter to Rohit’s story, one that includes unforgettable knocks, record-breaking hundreds and important wins as captain. At 38, he continues to give India strong starts and keeps delivering in pressure games. His calm style, clean hitting and ability to change gears quickly have made him one of the most dependable batters of his generation.

With this, Rohit now stands alongside Sachin Tendulkar, Virat Kohli and Rahul Dravid as the only Indians to score over 20,000 runs in international cricket. Across the world, he is the 14th player to reach the milestone.

Rohit Sharma becomes fourth Indian to reach 20,000 international runs

From Quinton de Kock to Ricky Ponting, meet the five batters who have smashed the most ODI hundreds against India. This list includes stalwarts like Sanath Jayasuriya, AB de Villiers and Kumar Sangakkara.

From Quinton de Kock to Ricky Ponting, meet the five batters who have smashed most ODI hundreds against India. This list includes stalwarts like Sanath Jayasuriya, AB de Villiers and Kumar Sangakkara.

5 batters with most ODI hundreds against India: De Kock leads, check the others

US President Donald Trump suggested that the NFL should consider changing its name, during the 2026 World Cup Draw at the Kennedy Centre in Washington, DC. He suggested that what Americans call ‘soccer’ should be ‘football' as it is called globally. He sparked one of the most stupid and oldest debates in Football, which has been discussed millions of times. &nbsp;"When you look at what has happened to football in the United States, soccer in the United States, we seem to never call it that, because we have a little bit of a conflict with another thing that's called football," said Trump, to which he was met with subdued laughter."We have to come up with another name for the NFL stuff. It really doesn't make sense when you think about it," said Trump in front of NFL stars like Tom Brady and Eli Manning.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-media-max-width="560">Trump suggests soccer is the true &quot;football&quot;<a href="https://t.co/FPlJ2QoAFr">pic.twitter.com/FPlJ2QoAFr</a>&mdash; Awful Announcing (@awfulannouncing) <a href="https://twitter.com/awfulannouncing/status/1997002871523659941?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 5, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

<h2>NFL vs Football</h2>Some people reacted that it is long overdue for common sense. &nbsp;Football is played with a round ball and kicked with the foot; only the goalkeeper can handle the ball, whereas NFL, it's a lot more than just foot and a lot complicated. Let's say you can hold the ball with your hand and run with it. The NFL, or the National Football League, originated from Rugby with a little bit of modification. The oval-shaped ball remains the same, with two sets of goalposts on both sides. But suggesting the NFL, a cultural and financial behemoth in the US, should just “come up with another name” is a buzzing performance."Tackleball. Best I got. All we do is tackle the person with the ball. Rarely kick the ball at all," said one user in X, while another said, "Funny how it took him this long to realise the entire world already had that figured out."Before suggesting the name change, FIFA President Gianni Infantino awarded Trump the first and only ever FIFA Peace Prize. The World Cup draw also featured many other like the comedian Kevin Hart and TV personality Heidi Klum, who introduced Infantino to kick off the show.&nbsp;

US President Donald Trump sparked debate at the 2026 World Cup draw by saying soccer deserves the name “football” and that American football should be renamed. His comments triggered strong reactions from fans and pundits.

US President Donald Trump suggested that the NFL should consider changing its name, during the 2026 World Cup Draw at the Kennedy Centre in Washington, DC. He suggested that what Americans call ‘soccer’ should be ‘football' as it is called globally. He sparked one of the most stupid and oldest debates in Football, which has been discussed millions of times. "When you look at what has happened to football in the United States, soccer in the United States, we seem to never call it that, because we have a little bit of a conflict with another thing that's called football," said Trump, to which he was met with subdued laughter. "We have to come up with another name for the NFL stuff. It really doesn't make sense when you think about it," said Trump in front of NFL stars like Tom Brady and Eli Manning.

US President Donald Trump sparked debate at the 2026 World Cup draw by saying soccer deserves the name “football” and that American football should be renamed. His comments triggered strong reactions from fans and pundits.

Donald Trump says NFL should be renamed, claims 'soccer is real football' in World Cup draw

Australia tightened their grip on the second Ashes Test after ending day 3 (Dec 6) in Brisbane with England struggling at 134/6. Earlier in the day, Australia pushed their first-innings total to 511, thanks to key knocks from Alex Carey and Mitchell Starc. Carey scored a brisk fifty, while Starc held firm to bring up his 12th Test half-century, helping Australia stretch their lead and control the game. England began their reply with a steady opening stand of 48, but once the new ball started to grip, everything changed. The innings fell apart as Scott Boland, Mitchell Starc, and Michael Neser picked up two wickets each, breaking England’s middle order and killing any momentum they tried to build.&nbsp;Meanwhile, Australia started the morning on 378/6, and the visitors hoped to wrap up the innings quickly. But Starc flipped the script by surviving the early pressure and scoring freely, frustrating England with smart strokeplay and calm defence. Carey kept the scoreboard moving at the other end before falling after his fifty, but Starc carried on. His 77 became the highest score by a No. 9 at the Gabba, and his 75-run stand with Scott Boland dragged the hosts far ahead.By the time Australia were bowled out, the heat had taken its toll on England. Their bowlers had spent long hours in the field, and that proved costly once the pink ball came out under lights.&nbsp;Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/watch-kl-rahul-finally-wins-a-toss-celebrates-as-india-break-20-match-losing-streak-1765016238063">WATCH: KL Rahul finally wins a toss, celebrates as India break 20-match losing streak</a>&nbsp;England’s second innings began brightly. Zak Crawley and Ben Duckett went after the bowlers early, reaching 45 without loss in just six overs. But the moment the floodlights took control, the game flipped. Duckett was bowled by a ball from Boland that shot low. Pope followed soon after, giving Neser a sharp return catch. Crawley fell to the same bowler in almost identical fashion.&nbsp;Joe Root tried to steady England with Harry Brook, but Starc removed him with a full ball that took the outside edge. Brook’s dismissal soon after deepened England’s trouble, and Jamie Smith also fell cheaply to Starc.&nbsp;At stumps, Ben Stokes and Will Jacks were hanging on, but England still trail by 43 runs with only four wickets left. Australia now look set to take a 2-0 lead in the Ashes, with England once again staring at defeat at the Gabba.

 Earlier in the day, Australia pushed their first-innings total to 511, thanks to key knocks from Alex Carey and Mitchell Starc. Carey scored a brisk fifty, while Starc held firm to bring up his 12th Test half-century, helping Australia stretch their lead and control the game.

Australia tightened their grip on the second Ashes Test after ending day 3 (Dec 6) in Brisbane with England struggling at 134/6. Earlier in the day, Australia pushed their first-innings total to 511, thanks to key knocks from Alex Carey and Mitchell Starc. Carey scored a brisk fifty, while Starc held firm to bring up his 12th Test half-century, helping Australia stretch their lead and control the game. England began their reply with a steady opening stand of 48, but once the new ball started to grip, everything changed. The innings fell apart as Scott Boland, Mitchell Starc, and Michael Neser picked up two wickets each, breaking England’s middle order and killing any momentum they tried to build. Meanwhile, Australia started the morning on 378/6, and the visitors hoped to wrap up the innings quickly. But Starc flipped the script by surviving the early pressure and scoring freely, frustrating England with smart strokeplay and calm defence. Carey kept the scoreboard moving at the other end before falling after his fifty, but Starc carried on. His 77 became the highest score by a No. 9 at the Gabba, and his 75-run stand with Scott Boland dragged the hosts far ahead. By the time Australia were bowled out, the heat had taken its toll on England. Their bowlers had spent long hours in the field, and that proved costly once the pink ball came out under lights. Also read | WATCH: KL Rahul finally wins a toss, celebrates as India break 20-match losing streak England’s second innings began brightly. Zak Crawley and Ben Duckett went after the bowlers early, reaching 45 without loss in just six overs. But the moment the floodlights took control, the game flipped. Duckett was bowled by a ball from Boland that shot low. Pope followed soon after, giving Neser a sharp return catch. Crawley fell to the same bowler in almost identical fashion. Joe Root tried to steady England with Harry Brook, but Starc removed him with a full ball that took the outside edge. Brook’s dismissal soon after deepened England’s trouble, and Jamie Smith also fell cheaply to Starc. At stumps, Ben Stokes and Will Jacks were hanging on, but England still trail by 43 runs with only four wickets left. Australia now look set to take a 2-0 lead in the Ashes, with England once again staring at defeat at the Gabba.

&nbsp;Earlier in the day, Australia pushed their first-innings total to 511, thanks to key knocks from Alex Carey and Mitchell Starc. Carey scored a brisk fifty, while Starc held firm to bring up his 12th Test half-century, helping Australia stretch their lead and control the game.

Ashes 2025-26: Australia four wickets away from victory in Gabba

India had gone so long without winning a toss that it had almost become a running joke. So when KL Rahul called it right in Visakhapatnam ahead of the third ODI vs South Africa, his reaction said everything. A quick fist pump, a wide smile, and a sense of relief. The moment instantly went viral. India chose to bowl first, and this toss mattered because the team had lost 20 tosses in a row across formats.&nbsp;&nbsp;That streak started when Rohit Sharma lost the toss to Pat Cummins in the 2023 World Cup final. Since then, nothing had gone India’s way at the coin flip, until today. Rahul didn’t hide how much the moment meant. He explained that the team had trained under lights on Friday and expected a bit of dew, but not as early as Ranchi or Raipur.&nbsp;Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/wbbl-match-abandoned-after-ball-gets-stuck-in-pitch-at-karen-rolton-oval-1764955254116">WBBL match abandoned after ball gets stuck in pitch at Karen Rolton Oval</a>

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">🚨 Toss 🚨<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/TeamIndia?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#TeamIndia</a> have won the toss and elected to field first. Updates ▶️ <a href="https://t.co/HM6zm9o7bm">https://t.co/HM6zm9o7bm</a><a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/INDvSA?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#INDvSA</a> | <a href="https://twitter.com/IDFCFIRSTBank?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@IDFCFIRSTBank</a> <a href="https://t.co/vYNPSa1iKF">pic.twitter.com/vYNPSa1iKF</a>&mdash; BCCI (@BCCI) <a href="https://twitter.com/BCCI/status/1997208374543573035?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 6, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

“We were obviously planning to bowl second, keeping our track record in mind,” he said with a smile. “Still, we wanted to change things up and see how we bowl first. It looks like a good wicket.” With the series level at 1-1, Rahul also backed the group’s overall effort in the first two games. He pointed out that even though India conceded 360 in Raipur, the conditions and match-ups made the chase tougher than it looked from the outside. “For me and the leadership group, we’re really happy with how we played,” Rahul said. “There are a lot of positives. The chat has been to stay consistent with what we’re doing. We know the results will follow.” India made one change for the decider, bringing in Tilak Varma for Washington Sundar. As the match moved ahead, Rahul’s toss win gave India a small but much-needed psychological boost. After 20 straight losses at the coin, the captain’s simple fist pump captured exactly how every Indian fan felt, finally.

With the series level at 1-1, Rahul also backed the group’s overall effort in the first two games. He pointed out that even though India conceded 360 in Raipur, the conditions and match-ups made the chase tougher than it looked from the outside.

India had gone so long without winning a toss that it had almost become a running joke. So when KL Rahul called it right in Visakhapatnam ahead of the third ODI vs South Africa, his reaction said everything. A quick fist pump, a wide smile, and a sense of relief. The moment instantly went viral. India chose to bowl first, and this toss mattered because the team had lost 20 tosses in a row across formats. That streak started when Rohit Sharma lost the toss to Pat Cummins in the 2023 World Cup final. Since then, nothing had gone India’s way at the coin flip, until today. Rahul didn’t hide how much the moment meant. He explained that the team had trained under lights on Friday and expected a bit of dew, but not as early as Ranchi or Raipur. Also read | WBBL match abandoned after ball gets stuck in pitch at Karen Rolton Oval

With the series level at 1-1, Rahul also backed the group’s overall effort in the first two games. He pointed out that even though India conceded 360 in Raipur, the conditions and match-ups made the chase tougher than it looked from the outside.

WATCH: KL Rahul finally wins a toss, celebrates as India break 20-match losing streak

In a massive boost to the Indian Team, Test captain and star batter Shubman Gill has received the fitness clearance certificate from the Centre of Excellence (CoE) days ahead of the first T20I against South Africa in Cuttack on December 9. Picked in the T20I squad, subject to fitness, Gill, who joined the CoE in Bengaluru on December 1, was required to undergo a rehabilitation program for the neck injury he sustained during the first Test against the Proteas in Kolkata, which he did, and is now free of any discomfort&nbsp;"Shubman Gill has successfully completed his rehabilitation at CoE and has met the requisite criteria to be declared fit for all formats of the game," the CoE stated, as quoted by Times of India (TOI).&nbsp;Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/nz-vs-wi-justin-greaves-kemar-roach-stitch-stand-of-the-year-in-nail-biting-draw-in-christchurch-test-1765001444975">NZ vs WI: Justin Greaves, Roach stitch ‘stand of the year’ in nail-biting draw in Christchurch</a> &nbsp;During the first Test at the Eden Gardens, Gill suffered a neck injury and was hospitalised for two days before being ruled out of the Test. Although he did travel with the team to Guwahati for the second Test, being unable to regain full fitness kept him on the sidelines. The right-hander subsequently missed the ODI series, with the selectors roping in Ruturaj Gaikwad in his place. &nbsp;In between, he travelled to Mumbai to see a spine specialist before flying home to spend some time with his family. He then flew to Bengaluru to begin his rehab, where he completed his skill training, including batting, fielding and match simulations at the CoE.&nbsp; &nbsp;Meanwhile, the T20I-bound players are scheduled to assemble in Cuttack on Saturday (Dec 6), with those currently involved in the final ODI against South Africa, to re-link with the team later. The Men in Blue will have their first training session on Sunday (Dec 7) before the first match on Tuesday (Dec 9).

Gill is cleared for selection for the first T20I against South Africa in Cuttack on Tuesday (Dec 9). 

In a massive boost to the Indian Team, Test captain and star batter Shubman Gill has received the fitness clearance certificate from the Centre of Excellence (CoE) days ahead of the first T20I against South Africa in Cuttack on December 9. Picked in the T20I squad, subject to fitness, Gill, who joined the CoE in Bengaluru on December 1, was required to undergo a rehabilitation program for the neck injury he sustained during the first Test against the Proteas in Kolkata, which he did, and is now free of any discomfort "Shubman Gill has successfully completed his rehabilitation at CoE and has met the requisite criteria to be declared fit for all formats of the game," the CoE stated, as quoted by Times of India (TOI). Also read | NZ vs WI: Justin Greaves, Roach stitch ‘stand of the year’ in nail-biting draw in Christchurch During the first Test at the Eden Gardens, Gill suffered a neck injury and was hospitalised for two days before being ruled out of the Test. Although he did travel with the team to Guwahati for the second Test, being unable to regain full fitness kept him on the sidelines. The right-hander subsequently missed the ODI series, with the selectors roping in Ruturaj Gaikwad in his place. In between, he travelled to Mumbai to see a spine specialist before flying home to spend some time with his family. He then flew to Bengaluru to begin his rehab, where he completed his skill training, including batting, fielding and match simulations at the CoE. Meanwhile, the T20I-bound players are scheduled to assemble in Cuttack on Saturday (Dec 6), with those currently involved in the final ODI against South Africa, to re-link with the team later. The Men in Blue will have their first training session on Sunday (Dec 7) before the first match on Tuesday (Dec 9).

Gill is cleared for selection for the first T20I against South Africa in Cuttack on Tuesday (Dec 9).&nbsp;

Massive boost for India as Shubman Gill cleared to play South Africa T20Is

Memories, or rather nightmares of Perth, might have crept in when Mitchell Starc sent Ben Duckett and Ollie Pope to the pavilion for a pair of ducks. At the other end was Zack Crawley, also on a pair, who could do nothing but only had the honour of watching everything in dismay. After the Aussie left-arm pacer made Duckett nick one to the slip cordon, he quickly followed up with a Jaffa of a delivery that dislodged the stumps of Pope. The Poms were once again rattled in a familiar territory at five runs for the loss of two wickets. Then came Joe Root, who had his heart in his mouth when he was put down at second slip by Aussie skipper Steve Smith. &nbsp;However, the Yorkshireman moved on and, alongside Crawley, steadied the England innings by putting his head down and showing his technical prowess and craftsmanship. &nbsp;Whilst Root milked and grinded at one end, Crawley kept the scoreboard ticking before being dismissed for 76. &nbsp;Albeit the tumbling wickets at the other end, the right-hand batter showed his class with a wide array of shots, including the on-drives, pull shots and the square cuts that fittingly paid tribute to the late Robin Smith, who sadly passed away this week.&nbsp;Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/ashes-2025-26-australia-take-control-of-brisbane-test-with-44-run-lead-1764934266304">Ashes 2025-26: Australia take control of Brisbane Test with 44-run lead</a> &nbsp;As Root tucked away Boland to fine leg for a boundary, the Yorkshireman reached his 40th Test Century, his first on Australian soil that had remained elusive for more than a decade. The English batter not only got the monkey off his back but also showed that the old Joe Root is back. &nbsp;However, just when England were about to get folded up around the 270 mark, Root alongside Jofra Archer stitched another 70-odd runs for the final wicket in what could be called a bazballish finish that saw the right-hand batter flaying Aussie pacer Scott Boland to the stands with an unorthodox reverse sweep. &nbsp;With this hundred, Root now moves to the fourth position for the most number of centuries in Test cricket and is now part of an elite club of players to have 40 or more Test hundreds. This includes Sachin Tendulkar (51), Jacques Kallis (45) and Ricky Ponting (41). &nbsp;Averaging at around 37 (as per ESPN Crickinfo data), Joe Root was questioned by critics whether he was truly in the fabled Fab Four (Virat Kohli, Steve Smith, Kane Williamson) back in 2019. &nbsp;With Virat Kohli retired from Test Cricket, and Steve Smith and Kane Williamson still need some catching up to do, Root has made his standing firm as the leader of the pack with an average of 65 in over 13,000 runs in 2025. &nbsp;Smith averaged around 74 in 2019 and is currently averaging 50 with just 36 hundreds and 10,557 runs. On the other hand, Kane Williamson averaged around 51 in 2019 and is currently averaging 30 with 33 Test hundreds and 8,675 runs. &nbsp;In a season of stranger things where Test matches end in two days, Root’s hundred might certainly help England to turn things upside down at the Gabba in Brisbane following their shell-shocking defeat in Perth. &nbsp;On a lighter note, Joe Root has also saved us from the horrendous sight of seeing a certain Matthew Hayden Naked at the Boxing Day Test in MCG, Melbourne. &nbsp;For The Western Australian Newspaper, Well, Joe Root is not your average Joe.

With this hundred, Joe Root now moves to the fourth position for the most number of centuries in Test cricket and is now part of an elite club of players to have 40 or more Test hundreds.

Memories, or rather nightmares of Perth, might have crept in when Mitchell Starc sent Ben Duckett and Ollie Pope to the pavilion for a pair of ducks. At the other end was Zack Crawley, also on a pair, who could do nothing but only had the honour of watching everything in dismay. After the Aussie left-arm pacer made Duckett nick one to the slip cordon, he quickly followed up with a Jaffa of a delivery that dislodged the stumps of Pope. The Poms were once again rattled in a familiar territory at five runs for the loss of two wickets. Then came Joe Root, who had his heart in his mouth when he was put down at second slip by Aussie skipper Steve Smith. However, the Yorkshireman moved on and, alongside Crawley, steadied the England innings by putting his head down and showing his technical prowess and craftsmanship. Whilst Root milked and grinded at one end, Crawley kept the scoreboard ticking before being dismissed for 76. Albeit the tumbling wickets at the other end, the right-hand batter showed his class with a wide array of shots, including the on-drives, pull shots and the square cuts that fittingly paid tribute to the late Robin Smith, who sadly passed away this week. Also read | Ashes 2025-26: Australia take control of Brisbane Test with 44-run lead As Root tucked away Boland to fine leg for a boundary, the Yorkshireman reached his 40th Test Century, his first on Australian soil that had remained elusive for more than a decade. The English batter not only got the monkey off his back but also showed that the old Joe Root is back. However, just when England were about to get folded up around the 270 mark, Root alongside Jofra Archer stitched another 70-odd runs for the final wicket in what could be called a bazballish finish that saw the right-hand batter flaying Aussie pacer Scott Boland to the stands with an unorthodox reverse sweep. With this hundred, Root now moves to the fourth position for the most number of centuries in Test cricket and is now part of an elite club of players to have 40 or more Test hundreds. This includes Sachin Tendulkar (51), Jacques Kallis (45) and Ricky Ponting (41). Averaging at around 37 (as per ESPN Crickinfo data), Joe Root was questioned by critics whether he was truly in the fabled Fab Four (Virat Kohli, Steve Smith, Kane Williamson) back in 2019. With Virat Kohli retired from Test Cricket, and Steve Smith and Kane Williamson still need some catching up to do, Root has made his standing firm as the leader of the pack with an average of 65 in over 13,000 runs in 2025. Smith averaged around 74 in 2019 and is currently averaging 50 with just 36 hundreds and 10,557 runs. On the other hand, Kane Williamson averaged around 51 in 2019 and is currently averaging 30 with 33 Test hundreds and 8,675 runs. In a season of stranger things where Test matches end in two days, Root’s hundred might certainly help England to turn things upside down at the Gabba in Brisbane following their shell-shocking defeat in Perth. On a lighter note, Joe Root has also saved us from the horrendous sight of seeing a certain Matthew Hayden Naked at the Boxing Day Test in MCG, Melbourne. For The Western Australian Newspaper, Well, Joe Root is not your average Joe.

With this hundred, Joe Root now moves to the fourth position for the most number of centuries in Test cricket and is now part of an elite club of players to have 40 or more Test hundreds.

AUS vs ENG 2nd Ashes Test: Far better than your average Joe

An epic 202 not out by Justin Greaves and a stubborn support role by Kemar Roach saw the West Indies salvage a valiant draw in the first Test against New Zealand in Christchurch on Saturday. Set a colossal target of 531, 113 more than the current record for a successful fourth-innings chase, the West Indies were 457-6 at the end, the second-highest Test fourth innings. Greaves battled for almost 10 hours and faced 388 deliveries, bringing up his maiden double century in the penultimate over. Roach was unbeaten on his Test best of 58, which included facing 72 dot balls when he was on 53. The pair put on a gutsy 180 for the seventh wicket.&nbsp;"Kemar, the senior pro, guided me all the way," said man-of-the-match Greaves. "Coach told me once you get in, stay in. To be a part of history is exciting, but for me, it's one day at a time.&nbsp;"For us, it was just about getting into the last session."&nbsp;Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/ind-vs-sa-3rd-odi-will-virat-kohli-complete-hat-trick-of-hundreds-check-out-match-preview-streaming-details-1765000808254">IND vs SA 3rd ODI: Will Kohli complete hat-trick of hundreds? Check out preview, streaming details and more</a>&nbsp;A draw seemed a distant prospect for the tourists when the top order failed to fire yet again, and they slumped to 72-4. But New Zealand were down on firepower as injuries to Matt Henry and Nathan Smith reduced their pace attack in the second innings to just Jacob Duffy and Zak Foulkes.Both were playing only their second Test. The placid pitch was also of little assistance to the spinners, allowing Shai Hope and Greaves to cash in for the fifth wicket, amassing 196 runs in a 64-over stand.&nbsp;The West Indies resumed the final day at 212-4 with a confident Hope and Greaves adding 23 in six overs of spin before blunting the new-ball attack for more than 12 overs, before Hope was dismissed for 140. A short ball from Duffy outside the leg stump tempted Hope to hook, but the ball climbed, grazed the glove, and a diving Tom Latham took a stunning one-handed catch to complete the dismissal. Tevin Imlach came and went quickly, LBW to Foulkes for four, and New Zealand felt the initiative had swung their way again with the West Indies 277-6.&nbsp;But when Roach joined Greaves, the pendulum swung back the other way as West Indies reached 399-6 at tea, needing a further 132 with four wickets remaining if they were to achieve a historic victory in the final session.&nbsp;Luck was with Roach, who received five lives. He was dropped on 30 and 47 and survived a run-out when the throw went wide of the stumps.He was given not out to an LBW appeal and again for a caught behind, both off Michael Bracewell, when television replays showed he was out both times.&nbsp;Duffy was New Zealand's most successful bowler with 3-122 to go with his five wickets in the first Test.&nbsp;The second Test starts in Wellington on Wednesday.&nbsp;Disclaimer: This story has been published from a news agency feed with minimal edits to adhere to WION's style guide. The headline may have been changed to better reflect the content of the story or to make it more suitable for the WION audience.

While Greaves battled for almost 10 hours and faced 388 deliveries, bringing up his maiden double century in the penultimate over, Roach was unbeaten on his Test best of 58, which included facing 72 dot balls when he was on 53.

An epic 202 not out by Justin Greaves and a stubborn support role by Kemar Roach saw the West Indies salvage a valiant draw in the first Test against New Zealand in Christchurch on Saturday. Set a colossal target of 531, 113 more than the current record for a successful fourth-innings chase, the West Indies were 457-6 at the end, the second-highest Test fourth innings. Greaves battled for almost 10 hours and faced 388 deliveries, bringing up his maiden double century in the penultimate over. Roach was unbeaten on his Test best of 58, which included facing 72 dot balls when he was on 53. The pair put on a gutsy 180 for the seventh wicket. "Kemar, the senior pro, guided me all the way," said man-of-the-match Greaves. "Coach told me once you get in, stay in. To be a part of history is exciting, but for me, it's one day at a time. "For us, it was just about getting into the last session." Also read | IND vs SA 3rd ODI: Will Kohli complete hat-trick of hundreds? Check out preview, streaming details and more A draw seemed a distant prospect for the tourists when the top order failed to fire yet again, and they slumped to 72-4. But New Zealand were down on firepower as injuries to Matt Henry and Nathan Smith reduced their pace attack in the second innings to just Jacob Duffy and Zak Foulkes. Both were playing only their second Test. The placid pitch was also of little assistance to the spinners, allowing Shai Hope and Greaves to cash in for the fifth wicket, amassing 196 runs in a 64-over stand. The West Indies resumed the final day at 212-4 with a confident Hope and Greaves adding 23 in six overs of spin before blunting the new-ball attack for more than 12 overs, before Hope was dismissed for 140. A short ball from Duffy outside the leg stump tempted Hope to hook, but the ball climbed, grazed the glove, and a diving Tom Latham took a stunning one-handed catch to complete the dismissal. Tevin Imlach came and went quickly, LBW to Foulkes for four, and New Zealand felt the initiative had swung their way again with the West Indies 277-6. But when Roach joined Greaves, the pendulum swung back the other way as West Indies reached 399-6 at tea, needing a further 132 with four wickets remaining if they were to achieve a historic victory in the final session. Luck was with Roach, who received five lives. He was dropped on 30 and 47 and survived a run-out when the throw went wide of the stumps. He was given not out to an LBW appeal and again for a caught behind, both off Michael Bracewell, when television replays showed he was out both times. Duffy was New Zealand's most successful bowler with 3-122 to go with his five wickets in the first Test. The second Test starts in Wellington on Wednesday. Disclaimer: This story has been published from a news agency feed with minimal edits to adhere to WION's style guide. The headline may have been changed to better reflect the content of the story or to make it more suitable for the WION audience.

While Greaves battled for almost 10 hours and faced 388 deliveries, bringing up his maiden double century in the penultimate over, Roach was unbeaten on his Test best of 58, which included facing 72 dot balls when he was on 53.

NZ vs WI: Justin Greaves, Roach stitch ‘stand of the year’ in nail-biting draw in Christchurch

India and South Africa face off in the series decider in Vizag on Saturday (Dec 6), with all eyes on batting stalwart Virat Kohli. While India won the opener in Ranchi, thanks to Kohli’s 52nd ODI ton, the Proteas made it even-steven with a record run chase in the following game in Raipur. As Vizag stages the final game, a venue Virat loves batting at, the hosts would bank on him to put on a show and complete a hat-trick of hundreds in this series. Check out the match preview, streaming details and predicted XIs for both teams.<h2>Match Preview</h2>Just when Team India thought they had ticked all the boxes after hitting a mammoth 359 in the previous game, poor outfielding, dropped catches, and toothless death bowling saw them concede the result as South Africa completed their highest ODI run chase against India. &nbsp;With Vizag hosting the series decider, the hosts would aim to better their performance and take the series home.&nbsp; &nbsp;There remains a threat to the side - <a href="Dew factor becomes key talking point as India face South Africa in final ODI">the dew factor</a>, which also accounted for their miserable performance while defending that total in Raipur. As dew in Vizag would make it challenging for the team bowling second, both sides will aim to bowl first after winning the toss.&nbsp; &nbsp;The hosts, however, are likely to stick with the same playing XI, with the onus remaining on Kohli, from whom the fans are expecting a third hundred on the trot. &nbsp;On the other hand, the impressive South African team will take plenty of positives from their win in Raipur despite them losing two first-team players (Nandre Burger and Tony de Zorzi) to injuries. Heading into the final ODI, the visitors will make two forced changes, bringing in Ottneil Baartman in the pace department.<h3>Predicted Playing XIs –</h3>India - Yashasvi Jaiswal, Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, Ruturaj Gaikwad, Washington Sundar, KL Rahul (Captain &amp; WK), Ravindra Jadeja, Harshit Rana, Kuldeep Yadav, Arshdeep Singh, Prasidh Krishna &nbsp;South Africa - Quinton de Kock (wk), Aiden Markram, Temba Bavuma (captain), Matthew Breetzke, Rubin Hermann, Dewald Brevis, Marco Jansen, Corbin Bosch, Keshav Maharaj, Lungi Ngidi, Ottneil Baartman<h3>Streaming details –&nbsp;</h3>The third and final ODI between India and South Africa will get underway in Vizag on Saturday (Dec 6), with the Star Sports Network live telecasting the match on TV. The fans can also enjoy the online coverage on the JioHotstar app.&nbsp; &nbsp;The toss will take place at 1 PM local time, and the match begins at 1:30 PM.

Vizag will host the final One-Dayer between India and South Africa on Saturday (Dec 6).

India and South Africa face off in the series decider in Vizag on Saturday (Dec 6), with all eyes on batting stalwart Virat Kohli. While India won the opener in Ranchi, thanks to Kohli’s 52nd ODI ton, the Proteas made it even-steven with a record run chase in the following game in Raipur. As Vizag stages the final game, a venue Virat loves batting at, the hosts would bank on him to put on a show and complete a hat-trick of hundreds in this series. Check out the match preview, streaming details and predicted XIs for both teams. Match Preview Just when Team India thought they had ticked all the boxes after hitting a mammoth 359 in the previous game, poor outfielding, dropped catches, and toothless death bowling saw them concede the result as South Africa completed their highest ODI run chase against India. With Vizag hosting the series decider, the hosts would aim to better their performance and take the series home. There remains a threat to the side - the dew factor, which also accounted for their miserable performance while defending that total in Raipur. As dew in Vizag would make it challenging for the team bowling second, both sides will aim to bowl first after winning the toss. The hosts, however, are likely to stick with the same playing XI, with the onus remaining on Kohli, from whom the fans are expecting a third hundred on the trot. On the other hand, the impressive South African team will take plenty of positives from their win in Raipur despite them losing two first-team players (Nandre Burger and Tony de Zorzi) to injuries. Heading into the final ODI, the visitors will make two forced changes, bringing in Ottneil Baartman in the pace department. Predicted Playing XIs – India - Yashasvi Jaiswal, Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, Ruturaj Gaikwad, Washington Sundar, KL Rahul (Captain & WK), Ravindra Jadeja, Harshit Rana, Kuldeep Yadav, Arshdeep Singh, Prasidh Krishna South Africa - Quinton de Kock (wk), Aiden Markram, Temba Bavuma (captain), Matthew Breetzke, Rubin Hermann, Dewald Brevis, Marco Jansen, Corbin Bosch, Keshav Maharaj, Lungi Ngidi, Ottneil Baartman Streaming details – The third and final ODI between India and South Africa will get underway in Vizag on Saturday (Dec 6), with the Star Sports Network live telecasting the match on TV. The fans can also enjoy the online coverage on the JioHotstar app. The toss will take place at 1 PM local time, and the match begins at 1:30 PM.

Vizag will host the final One-Dayer between India and South Africa on Saturday (Dec 6).

IND vs SA 3rd ODI: Will Kohli complete hat-trick of hundreds? Check out preview, streaming details and more

Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo might come up against each other for ‘one last dance’ at next year’s FIFA World Cup 2026 in America. Argentina, the defending world champions, learned about their group games and possible knockout matches at Friday’s draw in Washington, DC. While the former three-time winners are in Group J alongside Algeria, Austria and Jordan, Portugal will face Uzbekistan, Colombia and the winner of Playoff Tournament 1 in Group K.&nbsp;Although neither confirmed nor denied their participation at next year’s World Cup, should both remain fit and available for selection, and their respective teams top their group stage, round of 32 and last-16 matches, the two could come up against each other for the last time at this global event. The chances of that happening are real, with the two star-studded teams expected to go at least that far in the tournament.&nbsp;Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/fifa-world-cup-draw-2026-south-africa-to-take-on-mexico-in-opening-mach-check-all-teams-groups-key-games-schedule-and-dates-full-list-here-1764964485463">FIFA World Cup draw 2026: South Africa to take on Mexico in opening match. Check all teams, groups, key games, schedule and dates. Full list here</a> &nbsp;Should that happen, Argentina will face Portugal at Arrowhead Stadium (on July 11), the home of the NFL quarterback Patrick Mahomes and the Kansas City Chiefs, in a FIFA World Cup 2026 quarterfinal. The winner of that game could potentially face England in the semis should the Poms qualify for the World Cup last four.<h3>Messi vs Ronaldo</h3>The former multi-time Ballon d’Or winners have faced off against each other during their time in Europe, with both being part of the Spanish League, La Liga, in their primes. With one representing Barcelona (Messi) and the other, its rivals, Real Madrid (Ronaldo), the two have made history, memories and headlines countless times. &nbsp;They, however, have never come across each other in a World Cup game, with America providing them with this chance in perhaps their last appearance at this global event. While Messi, who turns 39 midway through this spectacle, will feature in his sixth World Cup, Ronaldo, who will also turn 41 next year, will play his sixth World Cup. &nbsp;Meanwhile, since leaving Europe a few years ago, both continue to top scoring sheets elsewhere, with Messi already featuring in Major League Soccer (USA) for Inter Miami and Ronaldo extending his time playing in the Saudi Pro League for Al-Nassr.

Despite their decorated documented history at the club and international level, Messi and Ronaldo have never faced each other in a World Cup game to date.

Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo might come up against each other for ‘one last dance’ at next year’s FIFA World Cup 2026 in America. Argentina, the defending world champions, learned about their group games and possible knockout matches at Friday’s draw in Washington, DC. While the former three-time winners are in Group J alongside Algeria, Austria and Jordan, Portugal will face Uzbekistan, Colombia and the winner of Playoff Tournament 1 in Group K. Although neither confirmed nor denied their participation at next year’s World Cup, should both remain fit and available for selection, and their respective teams top their group stage, round of 32 and last-16 matches, the two could come up against each other for the last time at this global event. The chances of that happening are real, with the two star-studded teams expected to go at least that far in the tournament. Also read | FIFA World Cup draw 2026: South Africa to take on Mexico in opening match. Check all teams, groups, key games, schedule and dates. Full list here Should that happen, Argentina will face Portugal at Arrowhead Stadium (on July 11), the home of the NFL quarterback Patrick Mahomes and the Kansas City Chiefs, in a FIFA World Cup 2026 quarterfinal. The winner of that game could potentially face England in the semis should the Poms qualify for the World Cup last four. Messi vs Ronaldo The former multi-time Ballon d’Or winners have faced off against each other during their time in Europe, with both being part of the Spanish League, La Liga, in their primes. With one representing Barcelona (Messi) and the other, its rivals, Real Madrid (Ronaldo), the two have made history, memories and headlines countless times. They, however, have never come across each other in a World Cup game, with America providing them with this chance in perhaps their last appearance at this global event. While Messi, who turns 39 midway through this spectacle, will feature in his sixth World Cup, Ronaldo, who will also turn 41 next year, will play his sixth World Cup. Meanwhile, since leaving Europe a few years ago, both continue to top scoring sheets elsewhere, with Messi already featuring in Major League Soccer (USA) for Inter Miami and Ronaldo extending his time playing in the Saudi Pro League for Al-Nassr.

Despite their decorated documented history at the club and international level, Messi and Ronaldo have never faced each other in a World Cup game to date.

FIFA World Cup 2026: Messi, Ronaldo set for one last dance; check out possible date for Argentina-Portugal clash

France coach Didier Deschamps looked forward to a showdown between Kylian Mbappe and Erling Haaland after his side were drawn on Friday in the same group as Norway at the 2026 World Cup.&nbsp;"It will be a great duel," Deschamps told reporters in Washington, where France and Norway came out alongside Senegal in a tough-looking Group I. “Both teams have lots of other big names, but of course Kylian and Haaland are two players recognised around the world, and they will be two of the contenders to be the top scorer.”&nbsp;Mbappe has scored 30 goals in 24 games for Real Madrid and France since the beginning of this season, while Haaland has netted 33 in 24 appearances for Manchester City and Norway.&nbsp;Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/fifa-world-cup-2026-thomas-tuchel-warns-england-against-complacency-after-comfortable-draw-1764992163981">Tuchel warns England against complacency after ‘comfortable’ FIFA World Cup draw</a>&nbsp;Haaland's goals helped Norway top their qualifying group ahead of Italy as they secured a first appearance at the World Cup finals since 1998.&nbsp;France will be looking to win a third World Cup to make up for losing the 2022 final on penalties to Argentina in Qatar.&nbsp;Group I will be completed by the winner of one of the intercontinental play-offs to take place in March, from either Iraq, Bolivia or Suriname.&nbsp;A meeting with Senegal brings back memories of 2002, when France went to the tournament in Japan and South Korea as holders but lost to the West African nation in their opening match and ended up being eliminated in the group stage.&nbsp;"Every World Cup has its own story, and we need to make sure this one is as beautiful as possible," added Deschamps, who will step down after the tournament to bring an end to a 14-year reign at the helm of Les Bleus.&nbsp;If France top their section, they will play one of the best third-placed teams from the group stage in the round of 32. But then it is likely that Germany would stand in their way in the last 16.&nbsp;"Of course, as France we have a status, and there is a lot of expectation around us, but we need to show respect and humility from the beginning," added Deschamps. “Before thinking about what is at the top of the mountain, we will need to work our way up gradually, and the first steps are difficult.”&nbsp;Disclaimer: This story has been published from a news agency feed with minimal edits to adhere to WION's style guide. The headline may have been changed to better reflect the content of the story or to make it more suitable for the WION audience.

Mbappe has scored 30 goals in 24 games for Real Madrid and France since the beginning of this season, while Haaland has netted 33 in 24 appearances for Manchester City and Norway.

France coach Didier Deschamps looked forward to a showdown between Kylian Mbappe and Erling Haaland after his side were drawn on Friday in the same group as Norway at the 2026 World Cup. "It will be a great duel," Deschamps told reporters in Washington, where France and Norway came out alongside Senegal in a tough-looking Group I. “Both teams have lots of other big names, but of course Kylian and Haaland are two players recognised around the world, and they will be two of the contenders to be the top scorer.” Mbappe has scored 30 goals in 24 games for Real Madrid and France since the beginning of this season, while Haaland has netted 33 in 24 appearances for Manchester City and Norway. Also read | Tuchel warns England against complacency after ‘comfortable’ FIFA World Cup draw Haaland's goals helped Norway top their qualifying group ahead of Italy as they secured a first appearance at the World Cup finals since 1998. France will be looking to win a third World Cup to make up for losing the 2022 final on penalties to Argentina in Qatar. Group I will be completed by the winner of one of the intercontinental play-offs to take place in March, from either Iraq, Bolivia or Suriname. A meeting with Senegal brings back memories of 2002, when France went to the tournament in Japan and South Korea as holders but lost to the West African nation in their opening match and ended up being eliminated in the group stage. "Every World Cup has its own story, and we need to make sure this one is as beautiful as possible," added Deschamps, who will step down after the tournament to bring an end to a 14-year reign at the helm of Les Bleus. If France top their section, they will play one of the best third-placed teams from the group stage in the round of 32. But then it is likely that Germany would stand in their way in the last 16. "Of course, as France we have a status, and there is a lot of expectation around us, but we need to show respect and humility from the beginning," added Deschamps. “Before thinking about what is at the top of the mountain, we will need to work our way up gradually, and the first steps are difficult.” Disclaimer: This story has been published from a news agency feed with minimal edits to adhere to WION's style guide. The headline may have been changed to better reflect the content of the story or to make it more suitable for the WION audience.

Mbappe has scored 30 goals in 24 games for Real Madrid and France since the beginning of this season, while Haaland has netted 33 in 24 appearances for Manchester City and Norway.

FIFA World Cup draw: France’s Deschamps excited by Mbappe-Haaland group stage clash

England coach Thomas Tuchel warned his side not to get carried away after Friday's draw for the 2026 World Cup placed his team in an apparently winnable group but left open the possibility of a hazardous run through the knockout phase. The German was appointed with the task of leading England to a first major men's tournament triumph in what will be 60 years since they won the 1966 World Cup on home soil. They were drawn in Group L along with Croatia -- who beat England in the semi-finals in 2018 on the way to losing the final to France -- Ghana, and rank outsiders Panama.&nbsp;&nbsp;"I am very excited. They got me going. Rio Ferdinand's performance was outstanding," smiled Tuchel, with the former Manchester United and England defender helping conduct the draw on stage at the Kennedy Centre in Washington, DC.&nbsp;Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/fifa-world-cup-draw-2026-south-africa-to-take-on-mexico-in-opening-mach-check-all-teams-groups-key-games-schedule-and-dates-full-list-here-1764964485463">FIFA World Cup draw 2026: South Africa to take on Mexico in opening match. Check all teams, groups, key games, schedule and dates. Full list here</a>&nbsp;England will be expected to ease through to the knockout stage, especially as the expanded 48-team format means the eight best third-placed teams in the 12 groups will progress to the last 32, as well as the top two. But Tuchel warned against attempting to plot a route from there to the final at the MetLife Stadium just outside New York City on July 19.&nbsp;"I played tournament football only in the Champions League at club level, but you cannot get carried away with building your way with who you are going to meet if you win the group, if you are second or whatever," said the former Paris Saint-Germain, Chelsea and Bayern Munich coach. "You just focus on the group, this is what you do, and make sure you are in the right headspace.&nbsp;"We need to make sure we play with the same hunger and same excitement with which we played the last three games -- this will be the target."&nbsp;Tuchel's England cruised through qualifying, winning all eight games without conceding a goal against Albania, Serbia, Latvia and Andorra.<h3>‘No ideal scenario’</h3>&nbsp;The going will be much harder in North America in June and July, and England's route to glory looks particularly perilous, especially if all the favourites win their groups. That would set England on the way to a possible last-16 tie against Mexico at the Aztec Stadium in Mexico City, where Diego Maradona destroyed English hopes in the 1986 quarter-finals. A quarter-final against Carlo Ancelotti's Brazil could follow, before a possible semi-final against Argentina, the defending champions, and then either France or Spain in the final itself.&nbsp;Beyond their potential opponents, England will also have to handle the possibility of playing in baking conditions, as well as having to travel vast distances in between games. It is understood there was a preference within the England camp to be based in the vicinity of Kansas City in the American Midwest, but that looks unlikely now; they know where the group games will take place.&nbsp;While the final schedule will not be released until Saturday, England know they will begin their campaign against Croatia on June 17 in either Toronto or Arlington, just outside Dallas.&nbsp;Their second game against Ghana will either be played in Boston or Toronto, before they meet Panama either at the MetLife Stadium or in Philadelphia.&nbsp;"We have to wait until tomorrow (Saturday), and then we find a solution for it. I think this has to be the mindset for this World Cup -- not everything can be perfectly planned," said Tuchel.&nbsp;When asked about handling the heat and potentially playing in different time zones, he said: "It is what it is, and we have to find a way to accept it, build a high tolerance to all these obstacles. We cannot have an ideal scenario."&nbsp;Disclaimer: This story has been published from a news agency feed with minimal edits to adhere to WION's style guide. The headline may have been changed to better reflect the content of the story or to make it more suitable for the WION audience.

England is drawn in Group L along with Croatia -- who beat England in the semi-finals in 2018 on the way to losing the final to France -- Ghana, and rank outsiders Panama. 

England coach Thomas Tuchel warned his side not to get carried away after Friday's draw for the 2026 World Cup placed his team in an apparently winnable group but left open the possibility of a hazardous run through the knockout phase. The German was appointed with the task of leading England to a first major men's tournament triumph in what will be 60 years since they won the 1966 World Cup on home soil. They were drawn in Group L along with Croatia -- who beat England in the semi-finals in 2018 on the way to losing the final to France -- Ghana, and rank outsiders Panama. "I am very excited. They got me going. Rio Ferdinand's performance was outstanding," smiled Tuchel, with the former Manchester United and England defender helping conduct the draw on stage at the Kennedy Centre in Washington, DC. Also read | FIFA World Cup draw 2026: South Africa to take on Mexico in opening match. Check all teams, groups, key games, schedule and dates. Full list here England will be expected to ease through to the knockout stage, especially as the expanded 48-team format means the eight best third-placed teams in the 12 groups will progress to the last 32, as well as the top two. But Tuchel warned against attempting to plot a route from there to the final at the MetLife Stadium just outside New York City on July 19. "I played tournament football only in the Champions League at club level, but you cannot get carried away with building your way with who you are going to meet if you win the group, if you are second or whatever," said the former Paris Saint-Germain, Chelsea and Bayern Munich coach. "You just focus on the group, this is what you do, and make sure you are in the right headspace. "We need to make sure we play with the same hunger and same excitement with which we played the last three games -- this will be the target." Tuchel's England cruised through qualifying, winning all eight games without conceding a goal against Albania, Serbia, Latvia and Andorra. ‘No ideal scenario’ The going will be much harder in North America in June and July, and England's route to glory looks particularly perilous, especially if all the favourites win their groups. That would set England on the way to a possible last-16 tie against Mexico at the Aztec Stadium in Mexico City, where Diego Maradona destroyed English hopes in the 1986 quarter-finals. A quarter-final against Carlo Ancelotti's Brazil could follow, before a possible semi-final against Argentina, the defending champions, and then either France or Spain in the final itself. Beyond their potential opponents, England will also have to handle the possibility of playing in baking conditions, as well as having to travel vast distances in between games. It is understood there was a preference within the England camp to be based in the vicinity of Kansas City in the American Midwest, but that looks unlikely now; they know where the group games will take place. While the final schedule will not be released until Saturday, England know they will begin their campaign against Croatia on June 17 in either Toronto or Arlington, just outside Dallas. Their second game against Ghana will either be played in Boston or Toronto, before they meet Panama either at the MetLife Stadium or in Philadelphia. "We have to wait until tomorrow (Saturday), and then we find a solution for it. I think this has to be the mindset for this World Cup -- not everything can be perfectly planned," said Tuchel. When asked about handling the heat and potentially playing in different time zones, he said: "It is what it is, and we have to find a way to accept it, build a high tolerance to all these obstacles. We cannot have an ideal scenario." Disclaimer: This story has been published from a news agency feed with minimal edits to adhere to WION's style guide. The headline may have been changed to better reflect the content of the story or to make it more suitable for the WION audience.

England is drawn in Group L along with Croatia -- who beat England in the semi-finals in 2018 on the way to losing the final to France -- Ghana, and rank outsiders Panama.&nbsp;

Tuchel warns England against complacency after ‘comfortable’ FIFA World Cup draw

The group stage for the 2026 FIFA World Cup was officially announced during an extravagant final draw ceremony at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington, DC on Friday (December 5). Exciting matchups include Brazil vs. Morocco, the Netherlands facing Japan, and a highly anticipated rematch between France and Senegal, the team that stunned them in the 2002 World Cup. There will also be thrilling encounters for first-time World Cup participants Cabo Verde, Curaçao, Jordan, and Uzbekistan, who will take on powerhouse teams like Spain, Germany, Argentina, and Portugal. Additionally, Mexico and South Africa will kick off the tournament in Mexico City on June 11, 2026.&nbsp;The next key moment on the road to the 2026 World Cup will be the official release of the full match schedule on Saturday (December 6), which will include details on venues and kick-off times for all 104 games. This will be unveiled live on FIFA.com. The draw itself was conducted by Rio Ferdinand, the former England captain, with help from sports legends such as Tom Brady, Wayne Gretzky, Aaron Judge, and Shaquille O’Neal. The event was hosted by Kevin Hart, Heidi Klum, and Danny Ramirez, and featured stunning performances from Andrea Bocelli, Robbie Williams, Nicole Scherzinger, Lauryn Hill, and the Village People.&nbsp;Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/gianni-infantino-presents-us-president-donald-trump-with-fifa-peace-award-1764956385727">Gianni Infantino presents US President Donald Trump with FIFA Peace Award</a><h2>Here is the final list for the group stage</h2>Group A: Mexico; South Africa; Republic of Korea; UEFA Play-off D winnerGroup B: Canada; UEFA Play-off A winner; Qatar; SwitzerlandGroup C: Brazil; Morocco; Haiti; Scotland&nbsp;Group D: USA; Paraguay; Australia; UEFA Play-off C winnerGroup E: Germany; Curacao; Côte d’Ivoire; EcuadorGroup F: Netherlands; Japan; UEFA Play-off B winner; Tunisia&nbsp;Group G: Belgium; Egypt; Islamic Republic of Iran; New ZealandGroup H: Spain; Cabo Verde; Saudi Arabia; Uruguay&nbsp;Group I: France; Senegal; FIFA Play-off 2 winner; NorwayGroup J: Argentina; Algeria; Austria; Jordan&nbsp;Group K: Portugal; FIFA Play-off 1 winner; Uzbekistan; Colombia&nbsp;Group L: England; Croatia; Ghana; Panama<h2>How many teams will take part in the 2026 FIFA World Cup?</h2>A total of 48 countries will battle it out to lift the prestigious trophy. Argentina are the defending champions after they beat France in the 2022 World Cup in a penalty shoot-out after the match ended 3-3 in regulation time. The tournament will have a total of 104 matches, which will be played across three countries — the USA, Canada and Mexico. Notably, it is for the first time that the FIFA World Cup will be hosted by three countries.<h2>What are the venues for the 2026 FIFA World Cup?</h2>Thursday, 11 June 2026Match 1 - Group A (Mexico #1) – Estadio Azteca Mexico City Match 2 – Group A - Estadio GuadalajaraFriday, 12 June 2026Match 3 - Group B (Canada #1) – Toronto Stadium Match 4 - Group D (USA #1) – Los Angeles StadiumSaturday, 13 June 2026Match 5 – Group C - Boston Stadium Match 6 – Group D - BC Place Vancouver Match 7 – Group C - New York New Jersey Stadium Match 8 – Group B - San Francisco Bay Area StadiumSunday, 14 June 2026Match 9 – Group E - Philadelphia Stadium Match 10 – Group E - Houston Stadium Match 11 – Group F - Dallas Stadium Match 12 – Group F - Estadio MonterreyMonday, 15 June 2026Match 13 – Group H - Miami Stadium Match 14 – Group H - Atlanta Stadium Match 15 – Group G - Los Angeles Stadium Match 16 – Group G - Seattle StadiumTuesday, 16 June 2026Match 17 – Group I - New York New Jersey Stadium Match 18 – Group I - Boston Stadium Match 19 – Group J - Kansas City Stadium Match 20 – Group J - San Francisco Bay Area StadiumWednesday, 17 June 2026Match 21 – Group L - Toronto Stadium Match 22 – Group L - Dallas Stadium Match 23 – Group K - Houston Stadium Match 24 – Group K - Estadio Azteca Mexico CityThursday, 18 June 2026Match 25 – Group A - Atlanta Stadium Match 26 – Group B - Los Angeles Stadium Match 27 - Group B - (Canada #2) – BC Place Vancouver Match 28 - Group A - (Mexico #2) – Estadio GuadalajaraFriday, 19 June 2026Match 29 – Group C - Philadelphia Stadium Match 30 – Group C - Boston Stadium Match 31 – Group D - San Francisco Bay Area Stadium Match 32 - Group D (USA #2) – Seattle StadiumSaturday, 20 June 2026Match 33 – Group E - Toronto Stadium Match 34 – Group E - Kansas City Stadium Match 35 – Group F - Houston Stadium Match 36 – Group F - Estadio MonterreySunday, 21 June 2026Match 37 – Group H - Miami Stadium Match 38 – Group H - Atlanta Stadium Match 39 – Group G - Los Angeles Stadium Match 40 – Group G - BC Place VancouverMonday, 22 June 2026Match 41 – Group I - New York New Jersey Stadium Match 42 – Group I - Philadelphia Stadium Match 43 – Group J - Dallas Stadium Match 44 – Group J - San Francisco Bay Area StadiumTuesday, 23 June 2026Match 45 – Group L - Boston Stadium Match 46 – Group L - Toronto Stadium Match 47 – Group K - Houston Stadium Match 48 – Group K - Estadio GuadalajaraWednesday, 24 June 2026Match 49 – Group C - Miami Stadium Match 50 – Group C - Atlanta Stadium Match 51 - Group B (Canada #3) – BC Place Vancouver Match 52 – Group B - Seattle Stadium Match 53 - Group A - (Mexico #3) – Estadio Azteca Mexico City Match 54 – Group A - Estadio MonterreyThursday, 25 June 2026Match 55 – Group E - Philadelphia Stadium Match 56 – Group E - New York New Jersey Stadium Match 57 – Group F - Dallas Stadium Match 58 – Group F - Kansas City Stadium Match 59 - Group D - (USA #3) – Los Angeles Stadium Match 60 – Group D - San Francisco Bay Area StadiumFriday, 26 June 2026Match 61 – Group I - Boston Stadium Match 62 – Group I - Toronto Stadium Match 63 – Group G - Seattle Stadium Match 64 – Group G - BC Place Vancouver Match 65 – Group H - Houston Stadium Match 66 – Group H - Estadio GuadalajaraSaturday, 27 June 2026Match 67 – Group L - New York New Jersey Stadium Match 68 – Group L - Philadelphia Stadium Match 69 – Group J - Kansas City Stadium Match 70 – Group J - Dallas Stadium Match 71 – Group K - Miami Stadium Match 72 – Group K - Atlanta Stadium<h2>FIFA World Cup 26 – Round of 32 fixtures</h2>Sunday, 28 June 2026Match 73 – Group A runners-up v Group B runners-up - Los Angeles StadiumMonday, 29 June 2026Match 74 – Group E winners v Group A/B/C/D/F third place - Boston Stadium Match 75 – Group F winners v Group C runners-up - Estadio Monterrey Match 76 – Group C winners v Group F runners-up - Houston StadiumTuesday, 30 June 2026Match 77 – Group I winners v Group C/D/F/G/H third place - New York New Jersey Stadium Match 78 – Group E runners up v Group I runners-up - Dallas Stadium Match 79 – Group A winners v Group C/E/F/H/I third place - Estadio Azteca Mexico CityWednesday, 1 July 2026Match 80 – Group L winners v Group E/H/I/J/K third place - Atlanta Stadium Match 81 – Group D winners v Group B/E/F/I/J third place - San Francisco Bay Area Stadium Match 82 – Group G winners v Group A/E/H/I/J third place - Seattle StadiumThursday, 2 July 2026Match 83 – Group K runners-up v Group L runners-up - Toronto Stadium Match 84 – Group H winners v Group J runners-up - Los Angeles Stadium Match 85 – Group B winners v Group E/F/G/I/J third place - BC Place VancouverFriday, 3 July 2026Match 86 – Group J winners v Group H runners-up - Miami Stadium Match 87 – Group K winners v Group D/E/I/J/L third place - Kansas City Stadium Match 88 – Group D runners-up v Group G runners-up - Dallas Stadium<h2>FIFA World Cup 26 Round of 16 fixtures</h2>Saturday, 4 July 2026Match 89 – Winner match 74 v Winner match 77 - Philadelphia Stadium Match 90 – Winner match 73 v Winner match 75 - Houston StadiumSunday, 5 July 2026Match 91 – Winner match 76 v Winner match 78 - New York New Jersey Stadium Match 92 – Winner match 79 v Winner match 80 - Estadio Azteca Mexico CityMonday, 6 July 2026Match 93 – Winner match 83 v Winner match 84 - Dallas Stadium Match 94 – Winner match 81 v Winner match 82 - Seattle StadiumTuesday, 7 July 2026Match 95 – Winner match 86 v Winner match 88 - Atlanta Stadium Match 96 – Winner match 85 v Winner match 87 - BC Place Vancouver<h2>FIFA World Cup 26 quarter-final fixtures</h2>Thursday, 9 July 2026Match 97 – Winner match 89 v Winner match 90 - Boston StadiumFriday, 10 July 2026Match 98 – Winner match 93 v Winner match 94 - Los Angeles StadiumSaturday, 11 July 2026Match 99 – Winner match 91 v Winner match 92 - Miami Stadium Match 100 – Winner match 95 v Winner match 96 - Kansas City Stadium<h2>FIFA World Cup 26 semi-final fixtures</h2>Tuesday, 14 July 2026Match 101 – Winner match 97 v Winner match 98 - Dallas StadiumWednesday, 15 July 2026Match 102 – Winner match 99 v Winner match 100 - Atlanta Stadium<h2>FIFA World Cup 26 bronze final</h2>Saturday, 18 July 2026Match 103 – Loser match 101 v Loser match 102 - Miami Stadium<h2>FIFA World Cup 26 Final</h2>Sunday, 19 July 2026Match 104 – Winner match 101 v Winner match 102 - New York New Jersey Stadium

FIFA World Cup draw 2026: South Africa to take on Mexico in opening mach. Check all teams, groups, key games, schedule and dates. Full list here

The group stage for the 2026 FIFA World Cup was officially announced during an extravagant final draw ceremony at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington, DC on Friday (December 5). Exciting matchups include Brazil vs. Morocco, the Netherlands facing Japan, and a highly anticipated rematch between France and Senegal, the team that stunned them in the 2002 World Cup. There will also be thrilling encounters for first-time World Cup participants Cabo Verde, Curaçao, Jordan, and Uzbekistan, who will take on powerhouse teams like Spain, Germany, Argentina, and Portugal. Additionally, Mexico and South Africa will kick off the tournament in Mexico City on June 11, 2026. The next key moment on the road to the 2026 World Cup will be the official release of the full match schedule on Saturday (December 6), which will include details on venues and kick-off times for all 104 games. This will be unveiled live on FIFA.com. The draw itself was conducted by Rio Ferdinand, the former England captain, with help from sports legends such as Tom Brady, Wayne Gretzky, Aaron Judge, and Shaquille O’Neal. The event was hosted by Kevin Hart, Heidi Klum, and Danny Ramirez, and featured stunning performances from Andrea Bocelli, Robbie Williams, Nicole Scherzinger, Lauryn Hill, and the Village People. Also Read: Gianni Infantino presents US President Donald Trump with FIFA Peace Award Here is the final list for the group stage Group A: Mexico; South Africa; Republic of Korea; UEFA Play-off D winner Group B: Canada; UEFA Play-off A winner; Qatar; Switzerland Group C: Brazil; Morocco; Haiti; Scotland Group D: USA; Paraguay; Australia; UEFA Play-off C winner Group E: Germany; Curacao; Côte d’Ivoire; Ecuador Group F: Netherlands; Japan; UEFA Play-off B winner; Tunisia Group G: Belgium; Egypt; Islamic Republic of Iran; New Zealand Group H: Spain; Cabo Verde; Saudi Arabia; Uruguay Group I: France; Senegal; FIFA Play-off 2 winner; Norway Group J: Argentina; Algeria; Austria; Jordan Group K: Portugal; FIFA Play-off 1 winner; Uzbekistan; Colombia Group L: England; Croatia; Ghana; Panama How many teams will take part in the 2026 FIFA World Cup? A total of 48 countries will battle it out to lift the prestigious trophy. Argentina are the defending champions after they beat France in the 2022 World Cup in a penalty shoot-out after the match ended 3-3 in regulation time. The tournament will have a total of 104 matches, which will be played across three countries — the USA, Canada and Mexico. Notably, it is for the first time that the FIFA World Cup will be hosted by three countries. What are the venues for the 2026 FIFA World Cup? Thursday, 11 June 2026 Match 1 - Group A (Mexico #1) – Estadio Azteca Mexico City Match 2 – Group A - Estadio Guadalajara Friday, 12 June 2026 Match 3 - Group B (Canada #1) – Toronto Stadium Match 4 - Group D (USA #1) – Los Angeles Stadium Saturday, 13 June 2026 Match 5 – Group C - Boston Stadium Match 6 – Group D - BC Place Vancouver Match 7 – Group C - New York New Jersey Stadium Match 8 – Group B - San Francisco Bay Area Stadium Sunday, 14 June 2026 Match 9 – Group E - Philadelphia Stadium Match 10 – Group E - Houston Stadium Match 11 – Group F - Dallas Stadium Match 12 – Group F - Estadio Monterrey Monday, 15 June 2026 Match 13 – Group H - Miami Stadium Match 14 – Group H - Atlanta Stadium Match 15 – Group G - Los Angeles Stadium Match 16 – Group G - Seattle Stadium Tuesday, 16 June 2026 Match 17 – Group I - New York New Jersey Stadium Match 18 – Group I - Boston Stadium Match 19 – Group J - Kansas City Stadium Match 20 – Group J - San Francisco Bay Area Stadium Wednesday, 17 June 2026 Match 21 – Group L - Toronto Stadium Match 22 – Group L - Dallas Stadium Match 23 – Group K - Houston Stadium Match 24 – Group K - Estadio Azteca Mexico City Thursday, 18 June 2026 Match 25 – Group A - Atlanta Stadium Match 26 – Group B - Los Angeles Stadium Match 27 - Group B - (Canada #2) – BC Place Vancouver Match 28 - Group A - (Mexico #2) – Estadio Guadalajara Friday, 19 June 2026 Match 29 – Group C - Philadelphia Stadium Match 30 – Group C - Boston Stadium Match 31 – Group D - San Francisco Bay Area Stadium Match 32 - Group D (USA #2) – Seattle Stadium Saturday, 20 June 2026 Match 33 – Group E - Toronto Stadium Match 34 – Group E - Kansas City Stadium Match 35 – Group F - Houston Stadium Match 36 – Group F - Estadio Monterrey Sunday, 21 June 2026 Match 37 – Group H - Miami Stadium Match 38 – Group H - Atlanta Stadium Match 39 – Group G - Los Angeles Stadium Match 40 – Group G - BC Place Vancouver Monday, 22 June 2026 Match 41 – Group I - New York New Jersey Stadium Match 42 – Group I - Philadelphia Stadium Match 43 – Group J - Dallas Stadium Match 44 – Group J - San Francisco Bay Area Stadium Tuesday, 23 June 2026 Match 45 – Group L - Boston Stadium Match 46 – Group L - Toronto Stadium Match 47 – Group K - Houston Stadium Match 48 – Group K - Estadio Guadalajara Wednesday, 24 June 2026 Match 49 – Group C - Miami Stadium Match 50 – Group C - Atlanta Stadium Match 51 - Group B (Canada #3) – BC Place Vancouver Match 52 – Group B - Seattle Stadium Match 53 - Group A - (Mexico #3) – Estadio Azteca Mexico City Match 54 – Group A - Estadio Monterrey Thursday, 25 June 2026 Match 55 – Group E - Philadelphia Stadium Match 56 – Group E - New York New Jersey Stadium Match 57 – Group F - Dallas Stadium Match 58 – Group F - Kansas City Stadium Match 59 - Group D - (USA #3) – Los Angeles Stadium Match 60 – Group D - San Francisco Bay Area Stadium Friday, 26 June 2026 Match 61 – Group I - Boston Stadium Match 62 – Group I - Toronto Stadium Match 63 – Group G - Seattle Stadium Match 64 – Group G - BC Place Vancouver Match 65 – Group H - Houston Stadium Match 66 – Group H - Estadio Guadalajara Saturday, 27 June 2026 Match 67 – Group L - New York New Jersey Stadium Match 68 – Group L - Philadelphia Stadium Match 69 – Group J - Kansas City Stadium Match 70 – Group J - Dallas Stadium Match 71 – Group K - Miami Stadium Match 72 – Group K - Atlanta Stadium FIFA World Cup 26 – Round of 32 fixtures Sunday, 28 June 2026 Match 73 – Group A runners-up v Group B runners-up - Los Angeles Stadium Monday, 29 June 2026 Match 74 – Group E winners v Group A/B/C/D/F third place - Boston Stadium Match 75 – Group F winners v Group C runners-up - Estadio Monterrey Match 76 – Group C winners v Group F runners-up - Houston Stadium Tuesday, 30 June 2026 Match 77 – Group I winners v Group C/D/F/G/H third place - New York New Jersey Stadium Match 78 – Group E runners up v Group I runners-up - Dallas Stadium Match 79 – Group A winners v Group C/E/F/H/I third place - Estadio Azteca Mexico City Wednesday, 1 July 2026 Match 80 – Group L winners v Group E/H/I/J/K third place - Atlanta Stadium Match 81 – Group D winners v Group B/E/F/I/J third place - San Francisco Bay Area Stadium Match 82 – Group G winners v Group A/E/H/I/J third place - Seattle Stadium Thursday, 2 July 2026 Match 83 – Group K runners-up v Group L runners-up - Toronto Stadium Match 84 – Group H winners v Group J runners-up - Los Angeles Stadium Match 85 – Group B winners v Group E/F/G/I/J third place - BC Place Vancouver Friday, 3 July 2026 Match 86 – Group J winners v Group H runners-up - Miami Stadium Match 87 – Group K winners v Group D/E/I/J/L third place - Kansas City Stadium Match 88 – Group D runners-up v Group G runners-up - Dallas Stadium FIFA World Cup 26 Round of 16 fixtures Saturday, 4 July 2026 Match 89 – Winner match 74 v Winner match 77 - Philadelphia Stadium Match 90 – Winner match 73 v Winner match 75 - Houston Stadium Sunday, 5 July 2026 Match 91 – Winner match 76 v Winner match 78 - New York New Jersey Stadium Match 92 – Winner match 79 v Winner match 80 - Estadio Azteca Mexico City Monday, 6 July 2026 Match 93 – Winner match 83 v Winner match 84 - Dallas Stadium Match 94 – Winner match 81 v Winner match 82 - Seattle Stadium Tuesday, 7 July 2026 Match 95 – Winner match 86 v Winner match 88 - Atlanta Stadium Match 96 – Winner match 85 v Winner match 87 - BC Place Vancouver FIFA World Cup 26 quarter-final fixtures Thursday, 9 July 2026 Match 97 – Winner match 89 v Winner match 90 - Boston Stadium Friday, 10 July 2026 Match 98 – Winner match 93 v Winner match 94 - Los Angeles Stadium Saturday, 11 July 2026 Match 99 – Winner match 91 v Winner match 92 - Miami Stadium Match 100 – Winner match 95 v Winner match 96 - Kansas City Stadium FIFA World Cup 26 semi-final fixtures Tuesday, 14 July 2026 Match 101 – Winner match 97 v Winner match 98 - Dallas Stadium Wednesday, 15 July 2026 Match 102 – Winner match 99 v Winner match 100 - Atlanta Stadium FIFA World Cup 26 bronze final Saturday, 18 July 2026 Match 103 – Loser match 101 v Loser match 102 - Miami Stadium FIFA World Cup 26 Final Sunday, 19 July 2026 Match 104 – Winner match 101 v Winner match 102 - New York New Jersey Stadium

The draw for the FIFA World Cup took place on Friday (December 5). In the opening match of the prestigious tournament, South Africa will take on Mexico. A total of 48 will be taking part in the event

India have been fighting the dew right through this ODI series against South Africa, and that challenge sits at the centre of their preparation for the final match in Visakhapatnam. The series is level at 1-1, but the dew has made both batting and bowling tricky at different stages, leaving India to constantly adjust their plans. India assistant coach Ryan ten Doeschate explained that the team is doing everything possible to deal with the conditions.&nbsp;&nbsp;He said the dew can change a match by almost 10 to 20 per cent, which is a huge gap in international cricket. He also joked about India’s long run of losing tosses but added that the team’s focus is on adapting, not complaining. To prepare, Indian bowlers are practising with wet balls to get used to the grip and control needed in the second innings when the outfield gets damp. The team is also working on how to set strong totals and defend them even when the ball gets slippery. Ten Doeschate said the group has stayed positive and accepted the challenge as part of the job.&nbsp;Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/wbbl-match-abandoned-after-ball-gets-stuck-in-pitch-at-karen-rolton-oval-1764955254116">WBBL match abandoned after ball gets stuck in pitch at Karen Rolton Oval</a>&nbsp;A new ODI rule has also added a twist. Earlier, each inning used two new balls from both ends. Now teams switch to one ball after 34 overs. The idea was to let the ball wear and get softer. But when dew comes in, that one ball gets wet faster, making it tougher to bowl. Umpires have been allowing ball changes, but a harder replacement ball again makes batting easier. India are trying to find the right balance within these changes. The batting unit is also reassessing what a good first-innings total looks like. In the earlier matches, the team thought 320 to 350 would be par, but dew pushed them to aim higher. India believes 360 is a fighting score even when the ball gets wet later. Ten Doeschate also said an earlier start time might reduce the impact of dew, but scheduling and broadcast needs make that hard. Despite the tough Test series loss and the tight ODI battle, India’s players are eager to finish strong. The coach said the team fully understands the responsibility of representing the country and wants to close the series with a win on Saturday.

He said the dew can change a match by almost 10 to 20 per cent, which is a huge gap in international cricket. He also joked about India’s long run of losing tosses but added that the team’s focus is on adapting, not complaining. 

India have been fighting the dew right through this ODI series against South Africa, and that challenge sits at the centre of their preparation for the final match in Visakhapatnam. The series is level at 1-1, but the dew has made both batting and bowling tricky at different stages, leaving India to constantly adjust their plans. India assistant coach Ryan ten Doeschate explained that the team is doing everything possible to deal with the conditions. He said the dew can change a match by almost 10 to 20 per cent, which is a huge gap in international cricket. He also joked about India’s long run of losing tosses but added that the team’s focus is on adapting, not complaining. To prepare, Indian bowlers are practising with wet balls to get used to the grip and control needed in the second innings when the outfield gets damp. The team is also working on how to set strong totals and defend them even when the ball gets slippery. Ten Doeschate said the group has stayed positive and accepted the challenge as part of the job. Also read | WBBL match abandoned after ball gets stuck in pitch at Karen Rolton Oval A new ODI rule has also added a twist. Earlier, each inning used two new balls from both ends. Now teams switch to one ball after 34 overs. The idea was to let the ball wear and get softer. But when dew comes in, that one ball gets wet faster, making it tougher to bowl. Umpires have been allowing ball changes, but a harder replacement ball again makes batting easier. India are trying to find the right balance within these changes. The batting unit is also reassessing what a good first-innings total looks like. In the earlier matches, the team thought 320 to 350 would be par, but dew pushed them to aim higher. India believes 360 is a fighting score even when the ball gets wet later. Ten Doeschate also said an earlier start time might reduce the impact of dew, but scheduling and broadcast needs make that hard. Despite the tough Test series loss and the tight ODI battle, India’s players are eager to finish strong. The coach said the team fully understands the responsibility of representing the country and wants to close the series with a win on Saturday.

He said the dew can change a match by almost 10 to 20 per cent, which is a huge gap in international cricket. He also joked about India’s long run of losing tosses but added that the team’s focus is on adapting, not complaining.&nbsp;

Dew factor becomes key talking point as India face South Africa in final ODI

At the 2026 World Cup draw taking place in Washington, DC, FIFA President Gianni Infantino presented the first-ever FIFA Peace Prize to his “close friend” Donald Trump. The award was given about 30 minutes into the high-profile ceremony at the Kennedy Center, before teams for next summer’s World Cup in the US, Canada, and Mexico are going to be selected.&nbsp;&nbsp;Trump, standing beside Infantino, called the honour “one of the greatest of my life,” adding that their efforts had “saved millions and millions of lives.” The prize, announced by FIFA last month without approval from its governing FIFA Council, was created to recognise individuals whose extraordinary contributions to peace have brought people together worldwide, according to FIFA.&nbsp;Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/ipl-2026-riyan-parag-more-than-ready-for-captaining-rajasthan-royals-if-offered-1764945780791">IPL 2026: Riyan Parag 'more than ready' for captaining Rajasthan Royals if offered</a>&nbsp;“A leader must care about the well-being of peoples, we want to unite peoples and Mr. President, you deserve this first prize for what you have accomplished and achieved. And you can always count on my support and that of the football community,” FIFA president Gianni Infantino was quoted as saying after handing the award to Trump.&nbsp;Donald Trump has maintained a close relationship with FIFA President Gianni Infantino, and received a special award two months after being overlooked for the Nobel Peace Prize. Recently, FIFA further cemented its connection with US President Donald Trump by appointing his daughter, Ivanka, to the board of a $100 million educational initiative partly funded by ticket sales from the 2026 World Cup. In its announcement of the new award, FIFA stated that it would be presented annually to individuals whose dedicated actions have significantly contributed to bringing people together in peace, deserving of unique and exceptional recognition. The US president thanked his family, including his wife, first lady Melania Trump, and appreciated the leaders of the other two host countries, Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney and Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum, in his brief speech.

Gianni Infantino presents US President Donald Trump with FIFA Peace Award

At the 2026 World Cup draw taking place in Washington, DC, FIFA President Gianni Infantino presented the first-ever FIFA Peace Prize to his “close friend” Donald Trump. The award was given about 30 minutes into the high-profile ceremony at the Kennedy Center, before teams for next summer’s World Cup in the US, Canada, and Mexico are going to be selected. Trump, standing beside Infantino, called the honour “one of the greatest of my life,” adding that their efforts had “saved millions and millions of lives.” The prize, announced by FIFA last month without approval from its governing FIFA Council, was created to recognise individuals whose extraordinary contributions to peace have brought people together worldwide, according to FIFA. Also Read: IPL 2026: Riyan Parag 'more than ready' for captaining Rajasthan Royals if offered “A leader must care about the well-being of peoples, we want to unite peoples and Mr. President, you deserve this first prize for what you have accomplished and achieved. And you can always count on my support and that of the football community,” FIFA president Gianni Infantino was quoted as saying after handing the award to Trump. Donald Trump has maintained a close relationship with FIFA President Gianni Infantino, and received a special award two months after being overlooked for the Nobel Peace Prize. Recently, FIFA further cemented its connection with US President Donald Trump by appointing his daughter, Ivanka, to the board of a $100 million educational initiative partly funded by ticket sales from the 2026 World Cup. In its announcement of the new award, FIFA stated that it would be presented annually to individuals whose dedicated actions have significantly contributed to bringing people together in peace, deserving of unique and exceptional recognition. The US president thanked his family, including his wife, first lady Melania Trump, and appreciated the leaders of the other two host countries, Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney and Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum, in his brief speech.

FIFA’s Gianni Infantino awards Donald Trump the inaugural Peace Prize at the 2026 World Cup draw, honouring his claimed global peace efforts

A WBBL match between Adelaide Strikers and Hobart Hurricanes had to be abandoned after a rare and surprising incident left the pitch unplayable. A cricket ball accidentally got stuck in the surface during the innings break, creating a deep hole that could not be fixed in time for the second innings.&nbsp;The game at Karen Rolton Oval was moving normally when the Strikers finished their innings at 167 for 4. As per usual WBBL rules, the ground staff began rolling the pitch during the break. At the same time, Hurricanes players were doing their warm-up on the side. A ball from their drill rolled onto the pitch and slipped under the heavy roller.&nbsp;Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/fakhar-zaman-fined-by-icc-for-dissent-during-tri-series-final-1764949761216">Fakhar Zaman fined by ICC for dissent during tri-series final</a>&nbsp;Because the roller is extremely heavy, it pressed the ball into the pitch and created a round hole right in the middle of the surface. The damage was too big and too deep to repair quickly. The Strikers later explained the situation in a statement on Instagram, saying that the pitch conditions had changed so much that it would be unfair for the Hurricanes to bat on it.&nbsp;Match officials, including the referee and umpires, checked the pitch and agreed that the second innings could not continue. Both teams’ captains were also consulted, and everyone accepted that the match had to be called off.&nbsp;Hobart Hurricanes had already qualified for the final after winning seven of their first nine matches. They were all set to chase the Strikers’ total, which was built around a strong innings from Madeline Penna. She scored an unbeaten 63 off 51 balls and anchored the Strikers’ batting effort. Hurricanes' bowlers shared the wickets, but they never got the chance to test themselves in the chase.&nbsp;For the Strikers, the no result was a setback. This was already their third washed-out or abandoned match of the season. They now sit sixth on the points table and must win their last league game against the Sydney Sixers to confirm a place in the finals.

The game at Karen Rolton Oval was moving normally when the Strikers finished their innings at 167 for 4. As per usual WBBL rules, the ground staff began rolling the pitch during the break. 

A WBBL match between Adelaide Strikers and Hobart Hurricanes had to be abandoned after a rare and surprising incident left the pitch unplayable. A cricket ball accidentally got stuck in the surface during the innings break, creating a deep hole that could not be fixed in time for the second innings. The game at Karen Rolton Oval was moving normally when the Strikers finished their innings at 167 for 4. As per usual WBBL rules, the ground staff began rolling the pitch during the break. At the same time, Hurricanes players were doing their warm-up on the side. A ball from their drill rolled onto the pitch and slipped under the heavy roller. Also read | Fakhar Zaman fined by ICC for dissent during tri-series final Because the roller is extremely heavy, it pressed the ball into the pitch and created a round hole right in the middle of the surface. The damage was too big and too deep to repair quickly. The Strikers later explained the situation in a statement on Instagram, saying that the pitch conditions had changed so much that it would be unfair for the Hurricanes to bat on it. Match officials, including the referee and umpires, checked the pitch and agreed that the second innings could not continue. Both teams’ captains were also consulted, and everyone accepted that the match had to be called off. Hobart Hurricanes had already qualified for the final after winning seven of their first nine matches. They were all set to chase the Strikers’ total, which was built around a strong innings from Madeline Penna. She scored an unbeaten 63 off 51 balls and anchored the Strikers’ batting effort. Hurricanes' bowlers shared the wickets, but they never got the chance to test themselves in the chase. For the Strikers, the no result was a setback. This was already their third washed-out or abandoned match of the season. They now sit sixth on the points table and must win their last league game against the Sydney Sixers to confirm a place in the finals.

The game at Karen Rolton Oval was moving normally when the Strikers finished their innings at 167 for 4. As per usual WBBL rules, the ground staff began rolling the pitch during the break.&nbsp;

WBBL match abandoned after ball gets stuck in pitch at Karen Rolton Oval

Fakhar Zaman was fined by the ICC after he showed dissent during the Tri-Series final against Sri Lanka, even as Pakistan went on to win the match and lift the trophy. His reaction to an umpire’s decision led to a small penalty, but it didn’t affect the team’s strong performance on the field. The incident happened in the 19th over of Pakistan’s innings. Fakhar got out and immediately began arguing with the umpires because he felt the decision was unfair.&nbsp;&nbsp;The argument went on for a while, and the match officials later reported it as dissent. After reviewing the moment, the ICC said Fakhar had broken Article 2.8 of the Code of Conduct, which deals with players showing disagreement with an umpire’s call. For this, Fakhar was fined 10 per cent of his match fee, and one demerit point was added to his name. This was his first offence in the last two years, so the punishment stayed on the lighter side. Level 1 offences are the least serious, but players are still expected to stay calm and respect decisions during the game.&nbsp;Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/how-to-watch-fifa-world-cup-2026-draw-live-in-india-full-schedule-and-pots-1764943061647">How to watch FIFA World Cup 2026 draw live in India, full schedule and pots</a>&nbsp;The sanction was issued by Reon King from the Emirates ICC International Panel of Match Referees. On-field umpires Ahsan Raza and Asif Yaqoob, along with third umpire Rashid Riaz and fourth umpire Faisal Afridi, reported the incident. Fakhar accepted the charge and the penalty, which meant there was no need for a formal hearing.&nbsp;Level 1 breaches can lead to an official warning, a fine of up to 50 per cent of the match fee, and one or two demerit points. Fakhar received the minimum punishment, so the ICC clearly viewed it as a minor lapse.&nbsp;On the field, Pakistan had a good night. They chased down the target comfortably and beat Sri Lanka by six wickets to win the Tri-Series. The team looked confident, handled the chase well, and closed out the match without any trouble.So while Fakhar’s argument with the umpires made a small headline, the bigger story remained Pakistan’s solid win and their strong finish to the tournament.

The argument went on for a while, and the match officials later reported it as dissent. After reviewing the moment, the ICC said Fakhar had broken Article 2.8 of the Code of Conduct, which deals with players showing disagreement with an umpire’s call. 

Fakhar Zaman was fined by the ICC after he showed dissent during the Tri-Series final against Sri Lanka, even as Pakistan went on to win the match and lift the trophy. His reaction to an umpire’s decision led to a small penalty, but it didn’t affect the team’s strong performance on the field. The incident happened in the 19th over of Pakistan’s innings. Fakhar got out and immediately began arguing with the umpires because he felt the decision was unfair. The argument went on for a while, and the match officials later reported it as dissent. After reviewing the moment, the ICC said Fakhar had broken Article 2.8 of the Code of Conduct, which deals with players showing disagreement with an umpire’s call. For this, Fakhar was fined 10 per cent of his match fee, and one demerit point was added to his name. This was his first offence in the last two years, so the punishment stayed on the lighter side. Level 1 offences are the least serious, but players are still expected to stay calm and respect decisions during the game. Also read | How to watch FIFA World Cup 2026 draw live in India, full schedule and pots The sanction was issued by Reon King from the Emirates ICC International Panel of Match Referees. On-field umpires Ahsan Raza and Asif Yaqoob, along with third umpire Rashid Riaz and fourth umpire Faisal Afridi, reported the incident. Fakhar accepted the charge and the penalty, which meant there was no need for a formal hearing. Level 1 breaches can lead to an official warning, a fine of up to 50 per cent of the match fee, and one or two demerit points. Fakhar received the minimum punishment, so the ICC clearly viewed it as a minor lapse. On the field, Pakistan had a good night. They chased down the target comfortably and beat Sri Lanka by six wickets to win the Tri-Series. The team looked confident, handled the chase well, and closed out the match without any trouble. So while Fakhar’s argument with the umpires made a small headline, the bigger story remained Pakistan’s solid win and their strong finish to the tournament.

The argument went on for a while, and the match officials later reported it as dissent. After reviewing the moment, the ICC said Fakhar had broken Article 2.8 of the Code of Conduct, which deals with players showing disagreement with an umpire’s call.&nbsp;

Fakhar Zaman fined by ICC for dissent during tri-series final

Rajasthan Royals are entering the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026 auction without a captain. The franchise had traded their long-time skipper Sanju Samson to Chennai Super Kings (CSK) ahead of the upcoming mini-auction. In return, RR got veteran all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja and England's Sam Curran. While Jadeja is an option to lead the side, RR batter Riyan Parag is also one of the options. Parag, however, isn't thinking about the captaincy as of now but acknowledged that he's ready for the role if offered.Also Read - <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/guess-names-two-ipl-teams-in-google-s-most-searched-sports-teams-of-2025-and-none-have-won-a-single-title-1764941422856">Two IPL teams in Google's most searched sports teams of 2025 - Guess names</a>"There haven't been any discussions about captaincy at RR yet," Parag said in a chat with ESPNcricinfo. "Manoj (Badale) sir (the team owner) has told us that the decision will be made only after the auction. I'm not thinking about it right now either. If I start thinking about it now, it will mess with my mindset, and a significant amount of mental space will be occupied by just one thing - captaincy, captaincy, captaincy."If the team and management feel that I'm the right fit for the captaincy role, then I'm more than ready. Similarly, if they feel that I can contribute more effectively to the team as just a player, I'm ready for that too. My main goal is to have a season where I score 500-600 runs and take 10-15 wickets and help the team win the trophy," he added.Rajasthan Royals enter the auction with INR 16.05 crore purse with a maximum nine slots available after retaining 16 players ahead of the auction with only one slot for a foreign players.Rajasthan Royals Retained players (16): Donovan Ferreira, Ravindra Jadeja, Sam Curran, Dhruv Jurel, Jofra Archer, Kwena Maphaka, Lhuan-Dre Pretorius, Nandre Burger, Riyan Parag, Sandeep Sharma, Shimron Hetmyer, Shubham Dubey, Tushar Deshpande, Vaibhav Suryavanshi, Yashasvi Jaiswal, Yudhvir Singh

While Jadeja is an option to lead the side, RR batter Riyan Parag is also one of the options. Parag, however, isn't thinking about the captaincy as of now but acknowledged that he's ready for the role if offered.

Rajasthan Royals are entering the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026 auction without a captain. The franchise had traded their long-time skipper Sanju Samson to Chennai Super Kings (CSK) ahead of the upcoming mini-auction. In return, RR got veteran all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja and England's Sam Curran. While Jadeja is an option to lead the side, RR batter Riyan Parag is also one of the options. Parag, however, isn't thinking about the captaincy as of now but acknowledged that he's ready for the role if offered. Also Read - Two IPL teams in Google's most searched sports teams of 2025 - Guess names "There haven't been any discussions about captaincy at RR yet," Parag said in a chat with ESPNcricinfo. "Manoj (Badale) sir (the team owner) has told us that the decision will be made only after the auction. I'm not thinking about it right now either. If I start thinking about it now, it will mess with my mindset, and a significant amount of mental space will be occupied by just one thing - captaincy, captaincy, captaincy. "If the team and management feel that I'm the right fit for the captaincy role, then I'm more than ready. Similarly, if they feel that I can contribute more effectively to the team as just a player, I'm ready for that too. My main goal is to have a season where I score 500-600 runs and take 10-15 wickets and help the team win the trophy," he added. Rajasthan Royals enter the auction with INR 16.05 crore purse with a maximum nine slots available after retaining 16 players ahead of the auction with only one slot for a foreign players. Rajasthan Royals Retained players (16): Donovan Ferreira, Ravindra Jadeja, Sam Curran, Dhruv Jurel, Jofra Archer, Kwena Maphaka, Lhuan-Dre Pretorius, Nandre Burger, Riyan Parag, Sandeep Sharma, Shimron Hetmyer, Shubham Dubey, Tushar Deshpande, Vaibhav Suryavanshi, Yashasvi Jaiswal, Yudhvir Singh

While Jadeja is an option to lead the side, RR batter Riyan Parag is also one of the options. Parag, however, isn't thinking about the captaincy as of now but acknowledged that he's ready for the role if offered.

IPL 2026: Riyan Parag 'more than ready' for captaining Rajasthan Royals if offered

The excitement for the FIFA World Cup 2026 is building fast as football fans across the globe wait for the final draw. With the tournament expanding to 48 teams for the first time, the draw will set the tone for a historic edition. Cabo Verde, Curacao, Jordan and Uzbekistan will also feature in their first-ever World Cup, adding fresh stories to the global stage.<h2>When and where is the draw?</h2>The final draw will take place at the Kennedy Centre in Washington, D.C., on Friday (Dec 5) at 10:30 PM IST. The USA, Canada and Mexico are the joint hosts of the 2026 World Cup, making this the first edition spread across three countries. The hosts have already been placed in their groups: Mexico in Group A, Canada in Group B and the USA in Group D.&nbsp;Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/what-is-virat-kohli-s-odi-record-in-vizag-full-breakdown-1764940605624">What is Virat Kohli’s ODI record in Vizag? Full breakdown</a><h2>How to watch the draw in India?</h2>There will be no TV telecast of the FIFA World Cup 2026 draw in India. Fans can watch the live streaming on the FIFA+ app and follow updates on FIFA’s official social media handles. This will be the only way to catch the event live.<h2>Who will attend?</h2>The draw will see several top leaders in attendance, with US President Donald Trump, Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum, and Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney expected to be present. FIFA President Gianni Infantino will lead the event.<h3>The pots for the draw</h3>The 48 teams are divided into four pots.<ol><li>Pot 1 features the three hosts along with top teams like Spain, Argentina, France, England, Brazil, Portugal, Netherlands, Belgium and Germany.</li><li>Pot 2 includes Croatia, Morocco, Colombia, Uruguay, Switzerland, Japan, Senegal, Iran, South Korea, Ecuador, Austria and Australia.</li><li>Pot 3 has Norway, Panama, Egypt, Algeria, Scotland, Paraguay, Tunisia, Ivory Coast, Uzbekistan, Qatar and South Africa.</li><li>Pot 4 includes Jordan, Cape Verde, Curacao, Ghana, Haiti, New Zealand, four European playoff winners and two intercontinental playoff winners.</li></ol><h3>Format for FIFA World Cup 2026</h3>The group stage will have 12 groups of four teams each. Every team plays three matches. The top two teams from each group and the eight best third-placed teams will move into the round of 32. The final will be played on July 19, 2026.

Cabo Verde, Curacao, Jordan and Uzbekistan will also feature in their first-ever World Cup, adding fresh stories to the global stage.

The excitement for the FIFA World Cup 2026 is building fast as football fans across the globe wait for the final draw. With the tournament expanding to 48 teams for the first time, the draw will set the tone for a historic edition. Cabo Verde, Curacao, Jordan and Uzbekistan will also feature in their first-ever World Cup, adding fresh stories to the global stage. When and where is the draw? The final draw will take place at the Kennedy Centre in Washington, D.C., on Friday (Dec 5) at 10:30 PM IST. The USA, Canada and Mexico are the joint hosts of the 2026 World Cup, making this the first edition spread across three countries. The hosts have already been placed in their groups: Mexico in Group A, Canada in Group B and the USA in Group D. Also read | What is Virat Kohli’s ODI record in Vizag? Full breakdown How to watch the draw in India? There will be no TV telecast of the FIFA World Cup 2026 draw in India. Fans can watch the live streaming on the FIFA+ app and follow updates on FIFA’s official social media handles. This will be the only way to catch the event live. Who will attend? The draw will see several top leaders in attendance, with US President Donald Trump, Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum, and Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney expected to be present. FIFA President Gianni Infantino will lead the event. The pots for the draw The 48 teams are divided into four pots. Pot 1 features the three hosts along with top teams like Spain, Argentina, France, England, Brazil, Portugal, Netherlands, Belgium and Germany. Pot 2 includes Croatia, Morocco, Colombia, Uruguay, Switzerland, Japan, Senegal, Iran, South Korea, Ecuador, Austria and Australia. Pot 3 has Norway, Panama, Egypt, Algeria, Scotland, Paraguay, Tunisia, Ivory Coast, Uzbekistan, Qatar and South Africa. Pot 4 includes Jordan, Cape Verde, Curacao, Ghana, Haiti, New Zealand, four European playoff winners and two intercontinental playoff winners. Format for FIFA World Cup 2026 The group stage will have 12 groups of four teams each. Every team plays three matches. The top two teams from each group and the eight best third-placed teams will move into the round of 32. The final will be played on July 19, 2026.

Cabo Verde, Curacao, Jordan and Uzbekistan will also feature in their first-ever World Cup, adding fresh stories to the global stage.

How to watch FIFA World Cup 2026 draw live in India, full schedule and pots

The year 2025 is coming to end and search engine giant Google has started rolling out its annual top searches. Google shares top searches across various categories and genres ranging from news to international relations, sports to entertainment, athletes to events and more. Among all the categories, a list of most searched sports teams of the year is also released and in 2025, two Indian Premier League (IPL) teams feature in top five. The interesting thing, however, is both the teams have never won an IPL title in their history despite being part of the tournament since maiden season in 2008.<h2>Top 5 most searched sports teams on Google</h2>Among the top 5 teams, top two are football clubs - Paris Saint Germain from France's Ligue 1 and S.L Benfica from Portugal's top tier football league. The third team is the USA's Major League Baseball (MLB) franchise Toronto Blue Jays - they are the runners up of 2025 World Series which explains their ranking on most searched teams.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">Top Trending Global Searches: Sports Teams 1. Paris Saint-Germain FC 2. S.L. Benfica 3. Toronto Blue Jays 4. Punjab Kings 5. Delhi Capitals&mdash; Google (@Google) <a href="https://twitter.com/Google/status/1996723795110096956?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 4, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

The next two in top five are two IPL teams - Punjab Kings and Delhi Capitals. Both the teams have never won single IPL title but Punjab Kings did reach the IPL 2025 final under new skipper Shreyas Iyer before losing to Royal Challengers Bengaluru in the final who won their maiden title in 2025.There are two more IPL teams in the next five searches - Gujarat Titans at six and Lucknow Super Giants at seven. The next two teams belong to NBA - Oklahoma City Thunder on number eight and Indiana Pacers on number nine while MLB's Seattle Mariners complete the top 10 list of most searched sports teams in 2025 on Google.Also Read - <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/-he-is-telling-himself-ravi-ashwin-on-kohli-s-fiery-celebrations-after-consecutive-odi-tons-1764938061470">'He is telling himself...,' Ravi Ashwin on Kohli's fiery celebrations after consecutive ODI tons</a>Talking about sports event, the top five included three cricketing events despite the sport being played only by a handful of countries compared to football. The three most searched cricket events are: Asia Cup 2025, ICC Champions Trophy and Women's World Cup 2025 - all won by India.

Two Indian Premier League (IPL) teams feature in top five list of most searched sports teams of the year 2025 released by Google. Both the teams, Punjab Kings and Delhi Capitals, however, have not won a single IPL title.

The year 2025 is coming to end and search engine giant Google has started rolling out its annual top searches. Google shares top searches across various categories and genres ranging from news to international relations, sports to entertainment, athletes to events and more. Among all the categories, a list of most searched sports teams of the year is also released and in 2025, two Indian Premier League (IPL) teams feature in top five. The interesting thing, however, is both the teams have never won an IPL title in their history despite being part of the tournament since maiden season in 2008. Top 5 most searched sports teams on Google Among the top 5 teams, top two are football clubs - Paris Saint Germain from France's Ligue 1 and S.L Benfica from Portugal's top tier football league. The third team is the USA's Major League Baseball (MLB) franchise Toronto Blue Jays - they are the runners up of 2025 World Series which explains their ranking on most searched teams.

Two Indian Premier League (IPL) teams feature in top five list of most searched sports teams of the year 2025 released by Google. Both the teams, Punjab Kings and Delhi Capitals, however, have not won a single IPL title.

Two IPL teams in Google's most searched sports teams of 2025 and none have won a single title

As India and South Africa are all set to clash in the third and final ODI in Vizag on Saturday (Dec 6), let's glance at how Indian ODI stalwart has performed there.

As India and South Africa are all set to clash in the third and final ODI in Vizag on Saturday (Dec 6), let's glance at how Indian ODI stalwart has performed there.

What is Virat Kohli’s ODI record in Vizag? Full breakdown

Ever since Virat Kohli announced his Test retirement on May 12, 2025, questions started to come up if he'll be able to play in ODIs with at same intensity as he's known for. Kohli's first two ODIs after announcing retirement were in Australia and he got out on duck in both the matches. In the next three matches played though, Kohli answered all the questions with some style. He first scored a fifty in final match of the three-ODI series in Australia then scored two back-to-back tons the first two matches of the ongoing three-match series in India against South Africa.<h2>Ravi Ashwin on Kohli's back-to-back ton celebrations</h2>“He looks in a good space. Looks like he had good practice. His mind is in good space. He has scored two centuries. He is telling not the world. He is telling himself. You doubted me. I did it. I have got in me and that is what I saw when he celebrated,” said Ashwin on his YouTube channel.Also Read - <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/ashes-2025-26-australia-take-control-of-brisbane-test-with-44-run-lead-1764934266304">Ashes 2025-26: Australia take control of Brisbane Test with 44-run lead</a>The comments come amid Kohli's aggressive and iconic celebration after his consecutive centuries. After completing the hundreds, Kohli had jumped high and punched the air while letting out a roar, reminding fans and teammates of prime Kohli of past.<h2>Kohli--mania grips Vizag for third ODI</h2>The ongoing India vs South Africa will see the series decided being played on Saturday (Dec 6) in Vizag and Kohli's twin centuries have made the fans go crazy for tickets. As per reports, the ticket sales picked up only after Kohli scored his second consecutive century in Raipur in the second ODI after hitting the first one in Ranchi ODI. The fans in Vizag are now hoping for 'vintage Kohli' to come up with another fine performance as India look for ODI series win after losing the two-Test series 0-2.

The comments come amid Kohli's aggressive and iconic celebration after his consecutive centuries. After completing the hundreds, Kohli had jumped high and punched the air while letting out a roar, reminding fans and teammates of prime Kohli of past.

Ever since Virat Kohli announced his Test retirement on May 12, 2025, questions started to come up if he'll be able to play in ODIs with at same intensity as he's known for. Kohli's first two ODIs after announcing retirement were in Australia and he got out on duck in both the matches. In the next three matches played though, Kohli answered all the questions with some style. He first scored a fifty in final match of the three-ODI series in Australia then scored two back-to-back tons the first two matches of the ongoing three-match series in India against South Africa. Ravi Ashwin on Kohli's back-to-back ton celebrations “He looks in a good space. Looks like he had good practice. His mind is in good space. He has scored two centuries. He is telling not the world. He is telling himself. You doubted me. I did it. I have got in me and that is what I saw when he celebrated,” said Ashwin on his YouTube channel. Also Read - Ashes 2025-26: Australia take control of Brisbane Test with 44-run lead The comments come amid Kohli's aggressive and iconic celebration after his consecutive centuries. After completing the hundreds, Kohli had jumped high and punched the air while letting out a roar, reminding fans and teammates of prime Kohli of past. Kohli--mania grips Vizag for third ODI The ongoing India vs South Africa will see the series decided being played on Saturday (Dec 6) in Vizag and Kohli's twin centuries have made the fans go crazy for tickets. As per reports, the ticket sales picked up only after Kohli scored his second consecutive century in Raipur in the second ODI after hitting the first one in Ranchi ODI. The fans in Vizag are now hoping for 'vintage Kohli' to come up with another fine performance as India look for ODI series win after losing the two-Test series 0-2.

The comments come amid Kohli's aggressive and iconic celebration after his consecutive centuries. After completing the hundreds, Kohli had jumped high and punched the air while letting out a roar, reminding fans and teammates of prime Kohli of past.

'He is telling himself...,' Ravi Ashwin on Kohli's fiery celebrations after consecutive ODI tons

Indian veteran all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja has spent more than a decade shaping India’s success across formats, and his journey has turned him into one of the country’s wealthiest active cricketers. He made his international debut in 2009 during the ODI series in Sri Lanka and has stayed a vital part of India’s plans ever since. Even after stepping away from T20Is in 2024, Jadeja continues to be a key name in Tests and ODIs.&nbsp;Beyond India, he has represented Saurashtra in domestic cricket and played for Rajasthan Royals, Gujarat Lions and Chennai Super Kings in the IPL. He was part of RR’s title-winning squad in the inaugural IPL in 2008 and later hit the winning runs in the 2023 final for CSK, sealing their fifth trophy. With nearly 350 international matches and 250 IPL games behind him, Jadeja’s influence is still strong. Now, let's glance at the source of his earnings.&nbsp;Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/ashes-2025-26-australia-take-control-of-brisbane-test-with-44-run-lead-1764934266304">Ashes 2025-26: Australia take control of Brisbane Test with 44-run lead</a><h2>BCCI Contract</h2>Jadeja is currently in the BCCI’s Grade A+ category, the highest tier for Indian players. This earns him an annual salary of INR 7 crore. The contract reflects his long-standing value as an all-rounder who delivers with both bat and ball.<h2>IPL Salary</h2>Ahead of IPL 2026, CSK traded him to RR for INR 18 crore. His IPL earnings have grown massively since his early days, when he started with a 12-lakh contract at Rajasthan Royals in 2008. Over the years, his consistency, utility and big-match presence have made him one of the most expensive players in the league.<h2>Brand Endorsements</h2>Jadeja has endorsed several major brands, ranging from Dream11 and My11Circle to Myntra, Oppo, BharatPe, Ambrane and Asics India. His long-term association with Sareen Sports and regular use of Asics equipment have boosted his profile in the cricket gear market as well.<h2>House and Car Collection</h2>A Jamnagar native, Jadeja owns a lavish palace-style home in the city, where he lives with his wife, Rivaba and their daughter. His garage features a Rolls-Royce Wraith, Audi Q7, Audi A4 and BMW X1.<h2>Net Worth</h2>As of 2024-25, Jadeja’s estimated net worth stands around INR 120 crore, built through his BCCI contract, IPL earnings, endorsements and investments.

With nearly 350 international matches and 250 IPL games behind him, Jadeja’s influence is still strong. Now, let's glance at the source of his earnings.

Indian veteran all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja has spent more than a decade shaping India’s success across formats, and his journey has turned him into one of the country’s wealthiest active cricketers. He made his international debut in 2009 during the ODI series in Sri Lanka and has stayed a vital part of India’s plans ever since. Even after stepping away from T20Is in 2024, Jadeja continues to be a key name in Tests and ODIs. Beyond India, he has represented Saurashtra in domestic cricket and played for Rajasthan Royals, Gujarat Lions and Chennai Super Kings in the IPL. He was part of RR’s title-winning squad in the inaugural IPL in 2008 and later hit the winning runs in the 2023 final for CSK, sealing their fifth trophy. With nearly 350 international matches and 250 IPL games behind him, Jadeja’s influence is still strong. Now, let's glance at the source of his earnings. Also read | Ashes 2025-26: Australia take control of Brisbane Test with 44-run lead BCCI Contract Jadeja is currently in the BCCI’s Grade A+ category, the highest tier for Indian players. This earns him an annual salary of INR 7 crore. The contract reflects his long-standing value as an all-rounder who delivers with both bat and ball. IPL Salary Ahead of IPL 2026, CSK traded him to RR for INR 18 crore. His IPL earnings have grown massively since his early days, when he started with a 12-lakh contract at Rajasthan Royals in 2008. Over the years, his consistency, utility and big-match presence have made him one of the most expensive players in the league. Brand Endorsements Jadeja has endorsed several major brands, ranging from Dream11 and My11Circle to Myntra, Oppo, BharatPe, Ambrane and Asics India. His long-term association with Sareen Sports and regular use of Asics equipment have boosted his profile in the cricket gear market as well. House and Car Collection A Jamnagar native, Jadeja owns a lavish palace-style home in the city, where he lives with his wife, Rivaba and their daughter. His garage features a Rolls-Royce Wraith, Audi Q7, Audi A4 and BMW X1. Net Worth As of 2024-25, Jadeja’s estimated net worth stands around INR 120 crore, built through his BCCI contract, IPL earnings, endorsements and investments.

With nearly 350 international matches and 250 IPL games behind him, Jadeja’s influence is still strong. Now, let's glance at the source of his earnings.

Ravindra Jadeja earnings breakdown: BCCI salary, IPL transfers and brand endorsements

Australia closed day two of the pink-ball Test in a commanding position at 378 for 6, taking clear control after surpassing England’s first innings score of 334. Openers Jack Weatherald and Travis Head laid a solid foundation with a 77-run stand, with Weatherald registering his maiden Test fifty. Marnus Labuschagne continued the momentum with a composed half-century before falling, while skipper Steven Smith contributed a valuable 61, marking his 40th Test fifty. At stumps, Michael Neser and Alex Carey were at the crease, ensuring Australia maintained momentum and extended their lead to 44 runs.&nbsp;The day saw England struggling to get a breakthrough. Ben Stokes and Brydon Carse looked tired, while Jofra Archer and Gus Atkinson failed to make an impact. After Joe Root’s brilliant century in Perth, England hoped to fight back, but Australia quickly took charge at the Gabba. At one point, they were cruising at 3-293, with Steve Smith and Cameron Green dominating a worn-out English attack.&nbsp;Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/joe-root-breaks-long-wait-with-maiden-test-century-on-australian-soil-1764844001513">Joe Root breaks long wait with maiden Test century on Australian soil</a>&nbsp;England did fight back a little late in the day. Carse and Stokes picked up a couple of wickets, but England’s fielding let them down, with five catches dropped. Travis Head added 30 more runs after being dropped, and Alex Carey stayed not out on 46, taking advantage of two missed chances. Marnus Labuschagne’s 65 was another solid contribution before he got out.&nbsp;Australia’s top order had dominated throughout, with Weatherald scoring a sparkling 72 and Labuschagne and Smith adding steady half-centuries. England’s fast bowlers struggled to create pressure for most of the day, and although Green and Smith fell late to Carse, missed catches allowed Australia to recover quickly.&nbsp;By the end of the day, Neser and Carey had added an unbeaten 49 runs. Australia scored at over five runs per over in the final session.

Openers Jack Weatherald and Travis Head laid a solid foundation with a 77-run stand, with Weatherald registering his maiden Test fifty. Marnus Labuschagne continued the momentum with a composed half-century

Australia closed day two of the pink-ball Test in a commanding position at 378 for 6, taking clear control after surpassing England’s first innings score of 334. Openers Jack Weatherald and Travis Head laid a solid foundation with a 77-run stand, with Weatherald registering his maiden Test fifty. Marnus Labuschagne continued the momentum with a composed half-century before falling, while skipper Steven Smith contributed a valuable 61, marking his 40th Test fifty. At stumps, Michael Neser and Alex Carey were at the crease, ensuring Australia maintained momentum and extended their lead to 44 runs. The day saw England struggling to get a breakthrough. Ben Stokes and Brydon Carse looked tired, while Jofra Archer and Gus Atkinson failed to make an impact. After Joe Root’s brilliant century in Perth, England hoped to fight back, but Australia quickly took charge at the Gabba. At one point, they were cruising at 3-293, with Steve Smith and Cameron Green dominating a worn-out English attack. Also read | Joe Root breaks long wait with maiden Test century on Australian soil England did fight back a little late in the day. Carse and Stokes picked up a couple of wickets, but England’s fielding let them down, with five catches dropped. Travis Head added 30 more runs after being dropped, and Alex Carey stayed not out on 46, taking advantage of two missed chances. Marnus Labuschagne’s 65 was another solid contribution before he got out. Australia’s top order had dominated throughout, with Weatherald scoring a sparkling 72 and Labuschagne and Smith adding steady half-centuries. England’s fast bowlers struggled to create pressure for most of the day, and although Green and Smith fell late to Carse, missed catches allowed Australia to recover quickly. By the end of the day, Neser and Carey had added an unbeaten 49 runs. Australia scored at over five runs per over in the final session.

Openers Jack Weatherald and Travis Head laid a solid foundation with a 77-run stand, with Weatherald registering his maiden Test fifty. Marnus Labuschagne continued the momentum with a composed half-century.

Ashes 2025-26: Australia take control of Brisbane Test with 44-run lead

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