Shreyas Iyer made a historic captaincy debut for India in T20Is after a significant 63-match absence, the longest such gap before leading the nation. At 31, he also became the third-oldest Indian T20I captain and the most experienced before his debut. Opting to field first in Belfast, Iyer confirmed the 15-year-old Vaibhav Sooryavanshi would have to wait for his international bow, prioritising team balance.from Sports News: Cricket Live Scorecard, Latest Cricket News, Football, NBA, NFL, WWE, NHL, MLB News & More https://ift.tt/SYMiWHy
Michael Vaughan questioned India's decision to bench Vaibhav Sooryavanshi after their surprising T20I loss to Ireland. Despite a strong bowling performance initially, Ireland posted 182, with late hitting proving crucial. India's chase faltered, with only Abhishek Sharma showing brief resistance, ultimately falling short by 34 runs. The defeat has sparked debate over team selection, particularly the omission of the young batting prodigy.
FIFA has invited all 211 member associations, including Russia, to the inaugural Under-15 World Cup in Azerbaijan, marking a potential first step toward reintegration after more than four years of suspension from senior competitions following the Ukraine invasion. While senior bans remain in place, the move signals a gradual shift, with FIFA president Gianni Infantino open to revisiting Russia’s exclusion.
Tazmin Brits' career-best 114 powered South Africa to a massive 208/1 against the Netherlands, securing an 88-run victory. This win keeps their Women's T20 World Cup semi-final hopes alive, placing them level with India in Group 1. Brits' century, the second-highest in World Cup history, and stellar bowling from Ayabonga Khaka and Shabnim Ismail were key. A crucial match against Bangladesh now awaits.
Speaking on the eve of the match, Kotak praised the teenager's ability but said team selection must also be fair to players who have already been scoring runs.
Morocco staged a dramatic comeback, twice trailing Haiti before securing a thrilling 4-2 victory to advance to the FIFA World Cup round of 32. Substitutes Soufiane Rahimi and Gessime Yassine netted crucial late goals, sealing Morocco's place in the knockout stages. Despite the loss, Haiti made history with their first World Cup goals, pushing a favored opponent to the brink.
Jude Bellingham found himself at the centre of World Cup controversy after being filmed covering his mouth while speaking to Ghana captain Jordan Ayew during England's 0-0 draw. However, FIFA's new mouth-covering rule applies only to confrontational exchanges, allowing Bellingham to avoid punishment. The midfielder later addressed a separate heated clash with Ghana's coaching staff following a reckless challenge.
Cristiano Ronaldo has etched his name in history, becoming the first footballer to score in six FIFA World Cup editions. The 41-year-old captain achieved this remarkable feat against Uzbekistan, extending a record that began in 2006. This milestone comes as Portugal seeks to rebound from a draw, with Ronaldo silencing critics by delivering on the grandest stage once again. His consistent brilliance across two decades solidifies his legacy.
Cristiano Ronaldo scored twice as Portugal crushed Uzbekistan 5-0 in Houston to strengthen their place in the FIFA World Cup 2026 knockout stages. The captain opened the scoring before adding a record-breaking second goal, becoming the first player to score in six consecutive World Cups and surpassing Eusébio as Portugal’s all-time leading World Cup scorer.
Day 11 saw Lamine Yamal channel Johan Cruyff’s ghost, Egypt and King Salah win their first World Cup game, while Ronaldo fanboys gave us a glimpse of the dark side of football. Also, a brand-new Meme Watch section. Read this and more in today’s Offside.