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Lionel Messi's brilliance was lauded by Inter Miami coach Javier Mascherano after the team reached their first MLS Cup final. Despite not scoring, Messi's crucial assist for Mateo Silvetti's goal proved decisive in their dominant 5-1 victory over New York City FC. Tadeo Allende's hat-trick also fueled Miami's charge to the championship match.

Rohit Sharma is on the verge of becoming the ODI sixes king, needing just three more to surpass Shahid Afridi's record of 351. He is also close to achieving 20,000 international runs, joining an elite group of Indian batsmen. Returning to ODI action against South Africa, Sharma carries significant responsibility to lead India's resurgence.

Excitement builds in Ranchi as Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli return for the ODI series against South Africa, aiming to revive the team's confidence after a Test defeat. Captain KL Rahul backs the experienced duo, while Ruturaj Gaikwad is set for a chance at number four. The toss and dew are expected to be crucial factors in the day-night encounter.

Following a Test series loss, India aims for a turnaround in the ODI format, banking on the experience of Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma. Stand-in skipper KL Rahul highlighted their importance in rotating the strike and their excitement to play. Veteran all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja's return also adds significant value to the squad.

Team India's training session saw Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma preparing for their ODI return against South Africa. A light-hearted moment between Kohli and Rishabh Pant highlighted Kohli's form. Both batsmen are nearing significant international milestones: Rohit is close to 20,000 runs, while Kohli could surpass Sachin Tendulkar's century record in a single format.

With reduced game time, Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli are intensely focused on fitness and form, targeting the 2027 ODI World Cup. Despite lack of assured public words from chief selector Ajit Agarkar and coach Gautam Gambhir, their dedication and recent performances suggest a strong desire to continue playing.

Barcelona secured a 3-1 win against Alaves. Dani Olmo scored two goals, helping Barcelona temporarily lead La Liga. Lamine Yamal also found the net for Barcelona. Alaves had taken an early lead through Pablo Ibanez. The victory marked Barcelona's fourth consecutive league win. The team celebrated its 126th anniversary during the match.

Pakistan clinched the T20 tri-series title by defeating Sri Lanka. Sri Lanka's batting faltered, collapsing to 114 all out. Pakistan chased the target with ease, reaching 118 for four. Babar Azam remained unbeaten with 37 runs. Pakistan's bowlers, particularly Mohammad Nawaz, were instrumental in restricting Sri Lanka. This victory boosts Pakistan's confidence ahead of the World Cup.

KL Rahul highlighted the significant boost Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma's return provides to the Indian dressing room ahead of the first ODI against South Africa. Their invaluable presence and experience are expected to instill confidence and aid the team in refining their middle-overs rhythm, especially with Kohli's mastery of singles.

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The Punjab Cricket Association will honor Indian captain Harmanpreet Kaur and former all-rounder Yuvraj Singh by naming two new stands after them. The inauguration will take place during the fourth T20I between India and South Africa on December 11. This tribute is to recognize their significant contributions to Indian cricket.

Businessman Jeet Pabari, brother-in-law of cricketer Cheteshwar Pujara, was found dead at his Rajkot residence on Wednesday, reportedly by suicide. Family members stated he had been battling depression for two months. The incident occurred a year after a rape complaint was filed against him, for which he had secured anticipatory bail.

Former South Africa captain Faf du Plessis will not enter the upcoming IPL auction, opting instead for the Pakistan Super League after 14 seasons in India. Du Plessis, a consistent performer for CSK and RCB, thanked franchises and fans for his IPL journey. He communicated this decision through a post on Instagram.

Indian defending champions Treesa Jolly and Gayatri Gopichand advanced to the women's doubles final at the Syed Modi International Super 300 badminton tournament with a straight-game victory. This marks their second tournament since Gayatri's return from injury, showcasing strong tactical play. They will face Japanese eighth seeds in the final, aiming to defend their title.

Former India spinner Harbhajan Singh criticizes the pitches that Team India play on, and added that the side lacks a specialist right-arm off-spinner for Tests. He believes the reliance on turning tracks hinders player development and urges a shift to better quality surfaces to foster genuine skill contests in red-ball cricket.

Pakistan captain Babar Azam cherishes the historic 2021 World Cup victory against India in Dubai as his most treasured moment. He revealed seeking insights from top cricketers like Virat Kohli on preparation and mental discipline. Azam emphasized that this monumental win, Pakistan's first against India in a World Cup, remains unparalleled in his career.

Inside India nets in Ranchi: How Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma prepared for first ODI vs South Africa

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Hardik Pandya is set to return to competitive cricket after a 42-day rehabilitation at the BCCI Centre of Excellence. He will play three matches for Baroda in the Syed Musthaq Ali Trophy, starting December 2nd. This stint aims to ease him back into action before the T20Is against South Africa, ensuring he's match-fit for next year's T20 World Cup.

England's Mark Wood is out of the second Ashes Test in Brisbane. His knee injury is a major blow to England's hopes of levelling the series. Wood had just returned after surgery. Josh Tongue is expected to replace him. England faces a tough challenge at the Gabba, a venue where they have struggled historically.

KL Rahul anticipates MS Dhoni's presence at the Ranchi ODI against South Africa. He will bat at number six. Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli return to the ODI squad. Ravindra Jadeja is back. Ruturaj Gaikwad will get opportunities. Rishabh Pant's role is clarified. The team aims for a strong performance.

Stand-in captain KL Rahul admits India's spin struggles are a sharp concern, a pattern exposed by recent series losses. He acknowledges the issue won't be fixed overnight but is optimistic about improvements for upcoming series. Rahul also highlighted the importance of strike rotation in ODIs, drawing inspiration from Virat Kohli's expertise.

The focus will soon shift to ODIs and another ICC tournament but it's been a difficult couple of weeks for Indian cricket as once-unshakable home dominance has crumbled under Gautam Gambhir, with two Test series defeats in a year and their heaviest loss by runs in history. Instead of accountability, Gambhir has leaned on his past glories

Mohammad Kaif attributes MS Dhoni and Virat Kohli's home Test success to their distinct leadership styles. Dhoni fostered player security and trust, while Kohli instilled a relentless pursuit of 20 wickets. Both captains expertly utilized their resources, building formidable teams that dominated on Indian soil, a stark contrast to recent home defeats.

Ravichandran Ashwin has publicly questioned Rishabh Pant's decision-making during India's Test series loss to South Africa, highlighting his dismissal in the first innings as a needless stroke. Despite the Test disappointment, the upcoming ODIs see the return of Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma, with the team aiming to rebound after a recent ODI series defeat.

KL Rahul press conference: On Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma return, role of Ruturaj Gaikwad and more

Odissi dancer Dona Ganguly has filed a police complaint against unknown individuals for abusive and derogatory remarks on social media. The offensive posts, targeting her after a performance at the Kolkata Film Festival, allegedly involved body shaming and defamation. Police are investigating, tracing the Facebook page and a linked mobile number.

South Africa captain Temba Bavuma expressed excitement about facing Indian veterans Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli in the upcoming ODI series. He highlighted the unique energy the duo brings to the field, noting it creates a different atmosphere. Bavuma stated that while preparation will be thorough, the presence of these legends is an exciting prospect for the Proteas.

How Ajit Agarkar is letting Indian cricket down

England captain Ben Stokes accepted criticism after the Ashes Test defeat, but rejected accusations of arrogance. He defended the team's preparation and preparation decisions, emphasizing learning from mistakes. Stokes urged confidence for the remaining four Tests, stating the team remains determined to win the Ashes.

Usman Khawaja faces Cricket Australia's ire for calling the Perth Ashes Test pitch a piece of s**t, contradicting the match referee's very good rating. Khawaja cited unpredictable bounce and batters being hit, even impacting Steve Smith. He noted pitches typically improve after the difficult opening day, a strategy his team often uses.

Kapil Dev criticizes India's batting collapse, attributing it to a lack of domestic cricket exposure. He argues that modern batters, unlike past generations, don't play enough first-class games to develop skills against quality spin. Dev believes this decline reflects a weakened batting technique for challenging red-ball conditions, emphasizing the need to revive the domestic system.

Ranchi is buzzing as Virat Kohli and MS Dhoni were spotted together, reigniting fan excitement. New photos show Kohli on Dhoni's iconic Yamaha RX 100 amidst a collection of vintage bikes, and a warm selfie captures their enduring friendship.

Ruturaj Gaikwad returns to the Indian ODI squad for the series against South Africa, expressing his eagerness to contribute. His recall follows strong domestic performances and comes as Shubman Gill and Shreyas Iyer are sidelined. Gaikwad could be a contender for the number four position in the batting order.

Jasprit Bumrah's workload is under scrutiny, with Ravichandran Ashwin and AB de Villiers suggesting he be used sparingly in Test cricket. They advocate for protecting him for white-ball assignments and focusing his Test appearances on high-value away series, highlighting his irreplaceable value and unique physical demands.

India's bowling coach Morne Morkel urges the team to forget the Test series loss. A new squad is ready for the limited-overs series against South Africa. Morkel acknowledges South Africa's momentum but emphasizes India's strong white-ball record. Experienced players Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli are back.

The BCCI is planning a meeting with selectors and team management to discuss Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli's future, focusing on the 2027 ODI World Cup. Clarity on their roles and performance expectations will be provided, with advice to play more domestic cricket to maintain match fitness and form.

India's once robust player development system appears dismantled, leading to a decline in top-flight cricket. Recent meek defeats highlight a collapsed feeder line, with questionable selections like Nitish Kumar Reddy's indicating a failure to groom middle-order batters. This contrasts sharply with the successful process under Rahul Dravid, which produced established stars.

Sanjay Manjrekar highlights India's recent home Test series defeats, attributing them to structural issues rather than form. He argues that Indian batters, after excelling domestically, become like 'NRIs' due to extensive overseas play, returning underprepared for home spin conditions. This lack of recent match-time on spin-friendly pitches leaves them ill-equipped.

Ravichandran Ashwin highlights Gautam Gambhir's significant impact on India's white-ball cricket, crediting him for fostering a bolder, more proactive T20 approach. Gambhir's coaching, fueled by IPL talent like Abhishek Sharma, has led to recent successes and a redefined team identity, contrasting with Test struggles.

India began their FIH Men's Junior Hockey World Cup campaign with a dominant 7-0 victory over Chile. Rosan Khujur and Dilraj Singh each scored twice. India's next match is against Oman. Other matches saw New Zealand defeat China and Argentina overcome Japan. Switzerland also secured a win against Oman. The tournament continues until December 10.

Indian tennis player Niki Kaliyanda Poonacha and his Thai partner Pruchya Isaro have secured a main-draw wild card for the 2026 Australian Open men's doubles. The Indo-Thai duo triumphed in the Asia-Pacific Wildcard Playoff, defeating a Japanese pair in the final. This marks a significant Grand Slam debut for Poonacha, who has previously excelled on the Challenger and ITF circuits.

Mumbai's Ayush Mhatre, at 18, has become the youngest cricketer to score centuries in first-class, List A, and T20 formats. He achieved this with an unbeaten 110 off 53 balls in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy, surpassing Rohit Sharma's record. This stellar performance also earned him captaincy of the India U19 squad and retention by Chennai Super Kings.

Recovering from injury, Umran Malik is eager to return to the Indian team, relying on his natural 150+ kmph pace and improved skills. Despite setbacks, he remains confident in his ability to take wickets and believes his speed is an art that cannot be compromised, aiming to be J&K's highest wicket-taker.

Rohit Sharma is on the cusp of a significant milestone, needing just 98 runs to surpass 20,000 international runs. He aims to join Indian legends Sachin Tendulkar, Virat Kohli, and Rahul Dravid in this elite club during the upcoming ODI series against South Africa.

Youngster Tanvi Sharma and Unnati Hooda advanced to the semi-finals of the Syed Modi International Super 300 badminton tournament. While top seed Jai Heng Jason Teh was eliminated, Indian players Kidambi Srikanth and Mithun Manjunath will face each other in the men's singles semifinals. The women's doubles top seeds also secured their spots.

India's bowling coach Morne Morkel provided positive updates on Shubman Gill and Shreyas Iyer's recoveries, though both will miss the upcoming ODI series against South Africa. Gill is recovering well from a neck injury, while Iyer has begun his rehabilitation for an abdominal issue.

Morne Morkel Press Conference: Virat Kohli-Rohit Sharma set for 2027 WC, Shreyas Iyer Update & More

The three-match ODI series against South Africa begins on Sunday in Ranchi, with the remaining fixtures scheduled in Raipur on Wednesday and Visakhapatnam on Saturday. Rohit enters the series in solid touch, having scored a century and a fifty in the recent ODI series against Australia, including his 33rd ODI ton in Sydney. Kohli, after recording back-to-back ducks in the first two ODIs of that series, bounced back with an unbeaten 74 in the final match.

Indian cricketer Yuzvendra Chahal has sparked conversation with an Instagram post indicating he's ready for marriage again, months after his divorce from Dhanashree Verma. The leg-spinner, who previously revealed intense emotional struggles and suicidal thoughts post-separation, expressed his desire for a partner. His announcement has drawn mixed reactions from fans.