The Times of India

Former India cricketer Mohammad Kaif expressed concern over Hardik Pandya's persistent fitness issues, highlighting a lack of transparency regarding his injuries. Kaif questioned Pandya's long-term availability for future tournaments, including the 2027 ODI World Cup. Meanwhile, Kaif supported the selectors' decision to pick Ishan Kishan over Yashasvi Jaiswal for the England ODI series, citing Kishan's versatility and current form.

FIFAs mandatory hydration breaks at the World Cup, under the guise of player welfare, have sparked debate. While introduced for all matches regardless of weather and conditions, coaches and players argue they disrupt momentum and alter footballs rhythm. Beyond altering the game, the breaks also create significant advertising inventory for broadcasters with Fox Sports in the USA expected to rake in $250 million. At the end of the day, do the commercial interests outweigh the sporting consideratio

Day 12 saw Dictator Kylian Mbapp turn France into a weapon of mass destruction, Lionel Messi keep chasing the Golden Boot, Erling Haaland drag Norway towards a blockbuster showdown, and the Adidas Trionda make goalkeepers question their life choices. Also, Ronaldos Portugal seek redemption on Day 13. Read this and more in todays Offside.

Rishabh Pant's return to Delhi Capitals after a disappointing two-year stint with Lucknow Super Giants came with a Rs 12 crore pay cut, from Rs 27 crore to Rs 15 crore. His move highlights how IPL valuations can change dramatically. Other stars who suffered major pay drops include Venkatesh Iyer, Sam Curran, Mitchell Starc, Kyle Jamieson and Jhye Richardson.

New Zealand secured a crucial six-wicket victory against Scotland, keeping their Women's T20 World Cup knockout stage hopes alive. Despite a stellar 72 from Darcey Carter, Scotland faltered in the closing overs. New Zealand's bowlers, led by Amelia Kerr, restricted Scotland to 131. A vital partnership between Izzy Sharp (62) and Brooke Halliday (41*) then guided the White Ferns to a hard-fought win.

Cricket icon Rohit Sharma has been honored with the prestigious Padma Shri for his significant contributions to Indian cricket. President Droupadi Murmu presented the award, recognizing Sharma's stellar career as a batsman and captain. His leadership guided India to the 2024 T20 World Cup and subsequent Champions Trophy glory, solidifying his legacy as one of the nation's most accomplished cricketers.

As teenagers from across Asia gathered inside Singapore's OCBC Arena for the NBA Rising Stars Invitational, Los Angeles Lakers forward Rui Hachimura made it clear that his vision extends beyond Japan. The first Japanese player drafted in the first round of the NBA Draft wants to inspire he whole Asia and create more pathways to the league, with Lauren Jackson and Hall of Famer Mitch Richmond echoing the importance of opportunities and grassroots development.

Mumbai and Punjab Kings all-rounder Suryansh Shedge is thrilled after earning his maiden India call-up as Nitish Kumar Reddy's replacement for the T20I series against Ireland and England. The 23-year-old credited his parents and coaches for his success, praised captain Shreyas Iyer's leadership, and said he remains focused on enjoying cricket rather than having expectations.

Veteran spinner Ravichandran Ashwin has come to the defense of young cricketer Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, urging against excessive criticism following an on-field incident. Ashwin emphasized the need to differentiate between constructive feedback and personal attacks, highlighting that Sooryavanshi is still developing. He encouraged allowing the talented youngster to play freely, free from undue pressure, as he prepares for a potential India debut.

India's Sree Charani has become the No. 1 ranked bowler in Women's T20Is after an outstanding Women's T20 World Cup campaign. The 21-year-old tops the ICC rankings after taking 10 wickets in three matches, including match-winning spells against the Netherlands and South Africa. Charani displaced England's Linsey Smith, while Shafali Verma and Harmanpreet Kaur also climbed the batting rankings.

Salil Ankola, the former cricketer, has recently triumphed over a significant struggle with severe depression, leaving a rehab facility near Pune in an 'absolutely fighting fit' state. Eager to dive back into the cricket scene, he is open to pursuing coaching and other cricket-related roles. Having lost 10 kgs throughout his stay, Ankola is now prepared to start his coaching career in Pune, marking an inspiring comeback.

England pacer Jofra Archer surprisingly named KL Rahul as the most challenging batter he's faced in the IPL. Archer highlighted Rahul's prime form, stating the Indian batter's ability to score freely anywhere on the ground made him incredibly difficult to bowl to. This high praise from a premier fast bowler underscores Rahul's exceptional batting prowess during his peak years in the league.

Suryansh Shedge has been called up to the Indian squad for the upcoming T20I series against Ireland and England, replacing the injured Nitish Kumar Reddy. Reddy sustained a quadriceps injury and will undergo rehabilitation. Shedge earned his maiden national call-up following stellar performances for India A in Sri Lanka and for Mumbai in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy, showcasing his potent finishing abilities.

The IPL confirmed the move on Tuesday, with Pant agreeing to a salary of Rs 15 crore, Rs 12 crore less than the record Rs 27 crore deal he received when he joined Lucknow Super Giants ahead of the 2025 season.

His comments come after India completed a 3-0 ODI series sweep over Afghanistan, shortly after the conclusion of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026 season.

Former England pacer Stuart Broad expressed immense excitement to witness 15-year-old Indian batting prodigy Vaibhav Sooryavanshi during the upcoming UK T20I series, admitting he might be starstruck. Sooryavanshi's record-breaking List-A fifty has propelled him into India's senior squad, drawing praise from Broad and Jos Buttler for his explosive talent and rapid rise, making him a significant challenge for England.

The Manchester City forward now has four goals in the World Cup, level with France's Kylian Mbappe and one behind Lionel Messi. Norway's victory also takes them to six points in Group I, alongside France, with the two sides set to meet on Friday to decide the group winner.

ICC Chairman Jay Shah championed the International Olympic Committee's (IOC) initiative on International Olympic Day, highlighting cricket's immense power to unite over two billion fans globally. He emphasized sport's role in promoting health and community engagement. This year's Olympic Day also marks a significant moment as cricket prepares for its return to the Olympic Games at LA28 after a century-long absence.

Declan Rice has revealed he has been managing hamstring nerve pain since Christmas, explaining the precautionary substitution during Englands World Cup win over Croatia. The Arsenal midfielder, who has played 63 matches this season, insisted he remains fit and available for the clash with Ghana, while highlighting the physical demands of footballs increasingly congested calendar.

Algeria staged a dramatic comeback, securing a vital 2-1 victory over Jordan in their FIFA World Cup 2026 match. After conceding an early goal, the Desert Foxes rallied in the second half with two set-piece goals to keep their knockout stage aspirations alive. This historic win marks their first World Cup triumph since 2014 and sets up a thrilling final group stage match.

At 15 years and 71 days, Sooryavanshi has become the youngest player selected in India's senior men's squad, surpassing the record set by Sachin Tendulkar 36 years ago.

Portugal's coach Roberto Martnez remained tight-lipped about Cristiano Ronaldo's starting position for the upcoming Uzbekistan match, following a subdued performance against Congo. Despite external criticism, Martnez defended his squad, emphasising unity and dismissing 'unfair' commentary. He highlighted Ronaldo's continued value in creating space and scoring opportunities.

The Viking Row has become a popular tradition among Norway fans during the tournament. Supporters sit in a formation resembling a Viking longboat and mimic rowing movements to the beat of a drum, drawing comparisons with Iceland's famous Viking Clap from Euro 2016.

Egypt's historic World Cup win over New Zealand is overshadowed by a logistical setback. Authorities denied their request to travel directly from Vancouver to Seattle for their crucial match against Iran. The team must now return to their Spokane training base, adding travel fatigue before the decisive fixture. This unexpected disruption complicates their build-up to a game that could secure their place in the Round of 32.

Erling Haaland scored twice as Norway defeated Senegal 3-2 to secure a place in the FIFA World Cup 2026 knockout stages and continue his remarkable goalscoring run. The striker became Norways all-time leading World Cup scorer with four goals in two matches, while also joining an exclusive group of players to score multiple goals in each of their first two World Cup appearances.

It is learnt that Reddy's quadriceps injury, which kept him out of the 2nd ODI against Afghanistan in Lucknow, has flared up and requires attention before he can take the field again.

The FIFA World Cup Golden Boot race is heating up as Lionel Messi, Kylian Mbapp, and Erling Haaland dominate with impressive goal tallies. Messi and Mbapp netted braces for their respective nations, while Haaland also bagged two goals for Norway. Messi has now become the World Cup's all-time leading scorer, leading the Golden Boot standings with five goals.

Geoffrey Boycott has slammed Joe Root's captaincy in England's second Test vs New Zealand, saying he's learned nothing from his previous spell in charge. Boycott welcomed Ben Stokes' return for the next Test. He praised Root's batting but questioned his tactical decisions, particularly his handling of Jofra Archer's bowling workload, drawing parallels to past mistakes.

New initiative, integrated with return to play plan, started for contracted players to work on specific cricket skills round the year.

Erling Haaland's sensational brace secured Norway's passage to the World Cup Round of 32 in a dramatic 3-2 win over Senegal. The prolific striker now boasts four goals in the tournament, keeping pace in the Golden Boot race. Norway's victory, their first World Cup qualification since 1998, sets up a crucial group decider against France.

After Messi scored twice in Argentina's 2-0 win over Austria on Monday to become the highest goalscorer in FIFA World Cup history, Ibrahimovic reflected on the 38-year-old's achievement.

Lionel Messi shattered FIFA World Cup records, becoming the all-time leading goalscorer and most victorious player just before his 39th birthday. Despite the milestones, Messi emphasised his focus remains on fitness and feeling good, not his age. He expressed uncertainty about playing in Argentina's next match but praised the team's competitive spirit, even after a missed penalty initially disrupted their rhythm.

Messi reached the landmark in the 38th minute, just two days before his 39th birthday. With the strike, Messi scored in his sixth straight World Cup match, joining France's Just Fontaine and Brazil's Jairzinho as the only players to achieve that feat.

France defeated Iraq 3-0 in Philadelphia to secure their place in the FIFA World Cup 2026 knockout rounds, with Kylian Mbappe scoring twice on his 100th international appearance. The match was halted for 130 minutes due to severe thunderstorms and lightning at half-time. Ousmane Dembele also scored as France maintained a perfect group-stage record.

The 2026 FIFA World Cup is shaping up to be an exhilarating showdown, with a remarkable 25% increase in goal scores compared to the last tournament. Innovations in ball technology and prolonged match durations are driving this offensive surge. Key players from top leagues, including stars from Real Madrid and Liverpool, along with Lionel Messi's Inter Miami, are leading the scoreboard, anticipating record-breaking goal counts.

Lionel Messis World Cup afternoon against Austria delivered both frustration and history. A ninth-minute penalty miss saw him set a new tournament record for most penalties taken and missed. Yet he later scored to move past Miroslav Klose as the World Cups all-time leading scorer, reinforcing a career defined by extraordinary consistency, longevity, and statistical extremes across multiple tournaments.

Kylian Mbapp is set to make his 100th appearance for France when Les Bleus face Iraq at the 2026 FIFA World Cup. The milestone comes days after he became Frances all-time leading scorer. With France aiming to secure knockout qualification, Mbapp also has the chance to climb the World Cup scoring charts and move closer to footballs greatest records.

Lionel Messi became the outright highest scorer in FIFA World Cup history after netting his 17th goal against Austria, surpassing Miroslav Klose. The Argentina captain also equalled the record of scoring in six consecutive World Cup matches. France star Kylian Mbappe praised Messi, calling him and Cristiano Ronaldo the best, while insisting his own focus remains on winning another World Cup.

England have named a 17-man squad for the five-match T20I series against India, handing all-rounder James Coles his maiden call-up. Harry Brook will captain the side, with Jordan Cox, Sonny Baker and Saqib Mahmood returning. Injuries rule out Brydon Carse and Jamie Overton. The series begins on July 1, with Jos Buttler and Jofra Archer among the key names.

England stars Ben Stokes and Gus Atkinson have been cleared of any wrongdoing following a nightclub incident after their win against New Zealand. While they received warnings and missed the second Test for breaching curfew, the Cricket Regulator found insufficient evidence for disciplinary action. Both players are expected to return for the series decider, shifting focus back to the 1-1 tied cricket series.

Former Wimbledon champion Marketa Vondrousova has been banned for four years after refusing an anti-doping test in December 2025. The Czech star, who won Wimbledon in 2023, said mental stress and fear led to the incident. The ITIA ruled against her, with the suspension lasting until 2030. Vondrousova can appeal the decision before the Court of Arbitration for Sport.

Germany's World Cup hopes have been dealt a severe blow as defender Nico Schlotterbeck is out for the rest of the tournament. The Borussia Dortmund star suffered a serious ankle injury during the win against Ivory Coast, confirmed by scans showing medial ligament damage. His absence forces coach Julian Nagelsmann to reshuffle the defence, with Antonio Rdiger expected to step in for the crucial knockout stages.

Cricket legend Clive Lloyd has lauded teenage sensation Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, believing he has the makings of a future star. Lloyd, who faced formidable pace attacks, suggested Sooryavanshi's skills would have been a significant challenge. He also urged for the youngster's natural playing style to be preserved. This praise follows Sooryavanshi's record-breaking 11-ball fifty for India A, fueling anticipation for his potential international debut in Ireland.

Rohan Bopanna has backed defending champion Jannik Sinner and Elena Rybakina to win the Wimbledon 2026 singles titles. The Indian doubles veteran also reflected on his lifelong love for Wimbledon, calling it a dream tournament. With Novak Djokovic chasing a 25th Grand Slam and Iga Swiatek aiming for a successful title defence, Bopanna expects another highly competitive edition.

Kieron Pollard has etched his name in T20 history, surpassing Chris Gayle to become the format's leading run-scorer during Major League Cricket 2026. The West Indian veteran achieved this milestone with an unbeaten century, accumulating 14,582 runs. Pollard highlighted the unique challenge of his middle-order role, expressing pride in his generation's embrace of franchise cricket, which has now become a global phenomenon.