Virat Kohli marked his return to domestic List A cricket with a 131-run knock for Delhi in the Vijay Hazare Trophy on Thursday. Playing at the BCCI Centre of Excellence in Bengaluru, he scored 131 off 101 balls as Delhi chased 299 to beat Andhra. The innings took Kohli past 16,000 List A runs, making him the second Indian to reach the mark after Sachin Tendulkar. The hundred came weeks after his back-to-back ODI tons against South Africa. His childhood coach Rajkumar Sharma said Kohli is in strong form and “fully ready” for the World Cup build-up. (PC: X)

Virat Kohli created history during Delhi's Vijay Hazare Trophy opener against Andhra Pradesh on December 24, becoming the second player after Sachin Tendulkar to score 16,000 List A runs. Kohli achieved the milestone in just 330 innings, beating Tendulkar's 391 innings by a massive margin, making him the fastest ever. The 37-year-old is the only player in this elite nine-member club averaging above 50, with a stunning 57.34 average. Kohli holds 57 centuries and needs just three more to match Tendulkar's world record of 60 List A tons. He's also the fastest to 10,000, 11,000, 12,000, 13,000, 14,000, and 15,000 List A runs, with 90% scored internationally.

Ishan Kishan celebrated his India T20 World Cup 2026 comeback by smashing a 33-ball century for Jharkhand against Karnataka in Vijay Hazare Trophy at Ahmedabad's Narendra Modi Stadium on December 24. The left-handed wicketkeeper-batter scored 125 from just 39 balls, hitting 7 fours and 14 sixes, helping Jharkhand post 412/9. Ishan broke 14-year-old Vaibhav Suryavanshi's record, who scored a 36-ball century earlier the same day. Bihar's Sakibul Gani holds the fastest Indian List A century record at 32 balls. Ishan finished as highest run-getter in Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy, earning his first India selection in over two years. Australian Jake Fraser-McGurk holds the world record at 29 balls.

Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli marked their return to the Vijay Hazare Trophy with commanding centuries on Wednesday. Rohit smashed 155 from 94 balls as Mumbai beat Sikkim by eight wickets in Jaipur. It was his first match in the tournament in seven years and he was named Player of the Match. Kohli scored a rapid hundred from 83 balls for Delhi against Andhra Pradesh in their Group D game. During the knock, Kohli crossed 16,000 List A runs. He became only the second Indian after Sachin Tendulkar to reach the mark. In another match, Ishan Kishan hit a 33-ball century for Jharkhand. (PC: NDTV )

Delhi Capitals have appointed Jemimah Rodrigues, 25, as captain for the WPL 2026, replacing former skipper Meg Lanning. Rodrigues, DC’s first-ever signing, has been a consistent performer with 507 runs at a strike rate of 139.66, making her the team’s third-highest run-scorer. Fresh from a standout year, including a World Cup semi-final hundred against Australia, she now aims to lead DC to their first title after three consecutive runner-up finishes. Calling the role an “absolute honour,” Rodrigues said the team feels like family. Co-owner Parth Jindal praised her energy, leadership qualities, and inspiring performances, expressing confidence she will finally help DC cross the elusive championship line. (PC: X)

Shubman Gill's exclusion from India's T20 World Cup squad has sparked troubling celebrations on social media, crossing from criticism into toxic territory. The 26-year-old Test and ODI captain struggled in T20Is, managing just 291 runs across 15 matches at 137.26 strike rate without a half-century. His inclusion altered India's aggressive batting approach, placing explosive responsibility on Abhishek Sharma while Gill anchored. After Gill's injury, Sanju Samson's return justified selectors' decision. While the exclusion made cricketing sense, fan toxicity threatens Indian cricket's future. As Test and ODI captain, Gill needs support, not vilification as excessive negativity risks undermining the team's transition phase post-Kohli and Rohit Sharma. (PC: AP)

Indian boxer Neeraj Goyat defeated USA's Anthony Taylor by unanimous decision at Misfits Boxing in Dubai, but the victory was overshadowed by backstage chaos. Goyat dominated all six rounds, winning with scorecards of 59-55, 58-56, and 60-54. Pre-fight tensions escalated after Taylor disparaged India's boxing credentials. Post-fight, when Taylor attempted a handshake in the medical room, Goyat refused, triggering an explosive confrontation where Taylor threw a bottle and verbally abused the Indian fighter before security intervened. Goyat's camp questioned how Taylor accessed the room. The Indian boxer later declared, "Do not underestimate Indians. India is your father," responding to Taylor's pre-fight disrespect.

Adidas orchestrated a historic meeting at Delhi's Purana Qila, bringing together football legend Lionel Messi and India's elite world champions. The iconic gathering featured Para Athletics champions Sumit Antil and Nishad Kumar, Women's World Boxing Champion Nikhat Zareen, and T20 World Champions Renuka Thakur and Kuldeep Yadav. Against the majestic heritage site backdrop, the athletes exchanged mutual respect and inspiration across different sporting disciplines. Messi acknowledged that despite playing different sports, champions share the same passion and drive. adidas GM Vijay Chauhan emphasized sport as the ultimate unifier, reinforcing the brand's vision to foster a dynamic multi-sport culture in India and create a global stage celebrating excellence beyond borders.

Shubman Gill was not picked in India’s squad for the T20 World Cup 2026. The decision ended the selectors’ four-month experiment with Gill in T20Is. Sanju Samson returned as India’s main opener. Ishan Kishan was named as back-up after strong domestic form. Former India cricketer Atul Wassan said Gill did not fit the T20 format. He said playing all formats puts unfair pressure on players. Gill is now expected to focus on Tests and ODIs. (PC: HT)

Lionel Messi’s appearance at the Salt Lake Stadium in Kolkata during his India tour was marred by chaos and dissatisfaction. Organiser Satadru Dutta told investigators that Messi was uncomfortable being touched and hugged by crowds, and was surrounded closely, including by West Bengal Sports Minister Aroop Biswas, who was seen posing with Messi. This situation made the Argentina star visibly unhappy and contributed to mismanagement. Thousands of ticket-holding fans struggled to see Messi, leading to frustration and vandalism inside the stadium. A Special Investigation Team is probing security lapses, crowd control failings, and organisational issues surrounding the event. (PC: AFP)