⚽️ Magical Lionel #Messi

A perfect start to Argentina's World Cup title defence. 🇦🇷🏆

Lionel Messi marks his 200th appearance for Argentina with a sensational hat-trick as the reigning champions defeat Algeria 3-0 in Kansas City.

⚽First World Cup hat-trick

⚽16 World Cup goals

⚽Level with Miroslav Klose's all-time record

The champions have arrived. 🐐🔥

⚽ Lionel #Messi piled up the records as he scored all three goals for #Argentina 🇦🇷 in their 2026 #WorldCup opener against #Algeria 🇩🇿 on Tuesday. 

➡️ Mess became the first player to feature in six World Cups and matched former Germany ​striker ​Miroslav ​Klose's tally ​of 16 goals on football's biggest stage.

Exactly 20 years since his first World Cup cap for Argentina, Messi etched his name deeper in history as he made, and broke, a series of records. Take a look at the numbers behind his record-breaking World Cup career.

#INDvPAK : Women's #T20WorldCup

Statement win from India as they defeat arch-rivals Pakistan to kick off their #T20WorldCup campaign, in style. 👊

As it happened: 

The toss goes India's way! 💙

HarmanpreetKaur opts to bat first as the Women in Blue gear up for cricket's greatest rivalry. 🇮🇳🏏

Pakistan to Chase: Record  Target 171.

Muneeba drooped in second over off Shreyanka Patil by wicketkeeper. Very Good start by Pak openers 3 Ov : 25/0. Drooped again on 20 : 36/0.

Experienced Deepti Sharma gets it 38/1: 4.5 Ov. Excellent 5th Ov: Wicket n just 2 runs.

Record Power Play score for Pak :  52/1.

Excellent front diving catch at backward short leg by Smriti - Dipti strikes again : 53/2: 6.3 Ov.

Deepti 2 off just 5 off 2 overs.

Shree Charani strikes on 4th ball: 58/3: 7.4 

Deepti Sharma reviews for lbw, batter survived on Umpire's call. 

10 Ov : 72/3 : Need 99 more off 10 ov .

Direct throw by Deepti Sharma: 75/4 : 10.5 Ov, dangerous looking set Muneeba gone. Definitely turning point for the match. 

India keeps striking , Pak captain gone sharply caught by Smriti bowled Shafali : 77/5 : 11.3 Overs. 

Another brilliant catch: Shreyanka Patil,  Shree Charani gets her 3rd..3/21 . It's all India now.

15 Ov : 92/7.

It's Deepti Sharma’s day now in this innings , gets 3rd and 4th and finishes with her fifth too - 3  wickets in the over : 5 for just 10 runs off  4 overs : What a player. Foxed with reduced pace.

Pakistan done and dusted : 106 in 17 overs.

India win by 64 runs.

Deepti Sharma is Player of the Match. 

Is now highest T20 wicket taker.

India Batted first:

Not a very good start India would have liked 18/2 : 3.2 Ov: Shafali Varma n Jemimah back.

4th bowler in 5th over: 3rd from spinner. 

Wicketkeeper standing close for pacers.

End of Power play: 6 Ov : 38/2 @ 6.33.

Smriti Mandhana 25* off 19, 

Captain  Harmanpreet Kaur 4 * off 6.

- most experienced match no.40 in ICC Tournaments for Kaur.

Smriti dropped on 27 at mid-off at 44/2.

Harmanpreet hits 2 boundaries in 9th Ov. 

Smriti Mandhana's 1st Six dancing down over long off on 28 : 9.1 ov.

Another close runout chance for Smriti.

10 Ov : 65/2. 

Smriti 36(28), Harmanpreet 20(27)

How much India can add in next 60 balls?

Partnership 51*off 45.

Smriti gets to 50 in style with 2 lofted shots over covers Celebrates with another.  But gets bit stretched while missing next one. Gets bit treatment..continues..

12 Ov : 85/2 .

Smriti Mandhana's day..gets life on 55 at mid-wicket boundary and a six.,  19 off 13th. 

Both getting more and more aggressive. 

13 Ov : 104/2 . Smriti 64*, Harmanpreet 30*.

But luck runs out for Smriti Mandhana finally caught at mid-on on 68 off 44 brilliant innings with 2 sixes: 109/3:13.5.

Another shock Fulmali stumped on 1: 110/4.

Richa Ghosh starts with 4 on 1st ball. 

15 Ov: 117/4 : Harmanpreet 32 (29).

How much India can add in last 5 overs?

Just 5 off 16th Ov. Kaur kept quiet.

Big blow:Harmanpreet caught on mid-wicket boundary 36 off 35 : 123/5 : 16.2 Ov.

Pakistan bowlers pull it back.

Deepti Sharma joins Richa : 22 more balls.

Just 7 runs n wicket in 17th :129/5.

Dipti diving forward 2nd run.

Again just 3 runs from 18th Ov. 

Boundaries dried , Pak excellent : 132/5.

Just 12 more balls can India cross 150?

Boundary after 22 deliveries - by Deepti, followed by Richa 4 6 4 4 .

Excellent over : 23 runs  no 19: 155/5.

Richa Ghosh lives to her reputation of Great Hitter : 34 off 17 bowled on second last ball: 5 fours and 1 six..enough?

168/6 : 19.5 Ov. 

Deepti Sharma 12 * off 9,Shreyanka Patil 1*off 1. 15 off the last over and wicket.

23+15 = 38 runs of last 2 overs. 

India finish with 170/6 @ 8.5.

#INDvAFG #ODIs

Dharamshala! 

 Prettiest ground in the world?

Breathtakingly mesmerising..!

2nd ODI: At Lucknow : 

India captain Shubman Gill and Ishan Kishan starred with brilliant centuries against Afghanistan in the second ODI, powering the hosts with a dominant batting display.

Gill smashed 154 off 110 balls to register his maiden hundred as ODI captain, while Kishan struck 125 off 79 deliveries for his first ODI century since his double hundred against Bangladesh in 2022.

News from Dharamshala : 

1st ODI: The rain has eased off, and the first ODI between India and Afghanistan has been reduced to 25 overs per side. The action is now set to get underway at 5:45 PM 

𝗗𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗺 𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗲 𝘁𝗿𝘂𝗲 🧢🇮🇳

For  Harsh Dubey and Gurnoor Brar on receiving their ODI debut caps from KL Rahul and Shubman Gill respectively 👏

India opted to field first:

Indian Chase : Target 196 ( RRR : 7.84 ).

After 3 illegal deliveries Rohit Sharma got hit badly  on his wrist , going for a big free hit. Bad news ..very uncomfortable..! But continues...

Trademark lofted pull..! Rohit Sharma gets to 16000 runs as an opener after Virendra Sehwag -  with a six. 

Misunderstanding with Shubman Gill run out on 16 off 16 : 46/1 : 5.4 Ov.

Shubman path was blocked by bowler.

Gone on 16 after registering 16 K runs..!

Pocket Dynamo Ishan Kishan in.

84/1 : 10 Ov. 

Need 111 off 90 balls (RRR 7.4).

Wily Rashid gets Ishan on googli 34(22).

Gill well set  57* off 40 : Need 79 off 73.

Classy price Shubman continues..

Need 33 off 24 : 162/3 .

KL Rahul in hurry 14 off 3 and appeal for caught behind...bump ball ..survived. 

20 off the over....class six over cover..Amazing skill by KL.

Eluding Shubman his 100...😉😊😅

So 13 off 18...almost in pocket now...

KL finish it in style...39* off 19.

Shubman Gill 84* off 66 : 11x4,2x6.

India 195/3 : 22.5 Overs. 

Won by 7 wickets (13 balls remaining ).

Clinical by Shubam and boys..!

Earlier..

Afghanistan: Sets Target of 195.

10 Ov : 79/3.

Gurbaz - excellent aggression, right from the word go...SR 200+

Inspite of wickets falling at other end...very harsh against debutant Harsh  Dubey and Prasidh Krishna, Washington Sundar. 

Partnership with Captain Shahidi 102* off just 56 balls.

What a brilliant knock by Gurbaz 100* off 48 : SR 208+ with 8 sixes so far.7 fifties and his 9th Hundred today. 

15 Ov : 140/3.

Nitish Kumar yorked him at last on 102 off 51 : 142/4 : 15.3.

The fastest century by an Afghanistan batter in ODIs! 💯🇦🇫

Second fastest against India after Shahid Afridi's  off 45 balls - 2005.

Rahmanullah Gurbaz, what a sensational ton in the overcast conditions! A truly special knock under pressure in Dharamshala. 😍🏟️

Afghanistan struggled after his wicket,  Indian bowlers pulled it bit back.

Ended with 194 off 24.5 Ov.

Superfast express Debutant Gurnoor Brar picks 3 wickets and left arm spinner Harsh Dubey too 3.