Former India cricket captain Sourav Ganguly filed a ₹50 crore defamation lawsuit against Uttam Saha, president of Argentina Fan Club Kolkata, over allegations linking Ganguly to Lionel Messi's controversial Salt Lake Stadium visit. The complaint filed at Lalbazar claims Saha's accusations damaged Ganguly's reputation without factual basis. Saha alleged Ganguly acted as middleman between organizers and Messi. Ganguly's legal team demanded retraction and damages, stating serious allegations were made publicly without evidence. Ganguly attended the stadium event in a different section and left disappointed as chaos erupted. Messi thanked India for the love during his short visit, promising to return, possibly for a match. (PC: PTI)

An elderly woman found at Mumbai's Belapur Metro station claims to be late cricketer Salim Durani's wife, sparking social media controversy. Identified as Rekha Srivastava, she alleges living luxuriously in Dubai, running an airline company, and owning bungalows before financial ruin. She recalls Durani playing cricket nationwide and meeting prominent personalities. However, Durani's biographies don't mention marriage to Srivastava or Dubai business ventures. Social media reports suggest the woman has been spotted in Vrindavan, Varanasi, and other northern religious cities. Durani's family hasn't issued any statement regarding these claims. The legendary all-rounder, India's first Arjuna Award recipient, died in 2023 aged 88 after scoring 1,202 runs and taking 75 wickets across 29 Tests.

Pakistani international kabaddi player Ubaidullah Rajput is facing potential disciplinary action after he appeared for a team labelled as India in a private tournament held in Bahrain on December 16, wearing an Indian jersey and waving the Indian flag. The Pakistan Kabaddi Federation (PKF) has called an emergency meeting on December 27 to investigate the incident, saying no permission or NOC was obtained and that his participation under another nation’s banner is “unacceptable”. Rajput apologised, claiming he didn’t know the side was named “Indian team”. The controversy has sparked debate on cross-border sports representation. (PC: Facebook)

Kartik Sharma’s IPL journey is a story of struggle and hope. The 19-year-old was bought by Chennai Super Kings for Rs 14.20 crore at the IPL 2026 auction. His family faced deep hardship to support his dream. His mother sold her jewellery and the family sold farmland to fund his training. During a domestic tournament, Kartik and his father even slept hungry after running out of money. Kartik kept working hard despite years without selection. Strong domestic performances changed his fate. Today, his success brings pride to his family and hometown. (PC: NDTV)

The fourth T20I between India and South Africa in Lucknow was called off due to dense fog. The match never started as visibility stayed poor all evening. Umpires inspected the ground several times before abandoning the game. The decision has raised serious questions about planning by cricket authorities. Winter fog is common in north India, especially in December. Experts say hosting a night match in Lucknow was a clear mistake. The washout reduced India’s preparation ahead of the T20 World Cup. Fans and former players have demanded accountability for repeated scheduling errors in Indian cricket. (PC: HT)

India’s vice-captain Shubman Gill has been ruled out of the fourth T20I against South Africa due to a foot injury after a series of low scores and continued poor form, sparking debate about his place in the side. Fans on social media questioned whether his absence was performance-related rather than just injury-linked, with many trolling his recent struggles at the top order. Gill managed just 32 runs in the first three T20Is, prompting criticism and calls for opportunities for others like Sanju Samson. The controversy highlights growing pressure ahead of the T20 World Cup. 

The fourth T20I between India and South Africa was abandoned in Lucknow due to dense smog and poor visibility. The toss was delayed several times before officials called off the match without a ball being bowled. The AQI in Lucknow touched 411, raising serious safety concerns for players. Congress MP Shashi Tharoor criticised the venue choice and said the match should have been held in Thiruvananthapuram. He pointed out that Kerala had much cleaner air. Fans expressed anger over the cancellation. Many questioned hosting matches in north India during peak winter smog season. (PC: India Today)

The fourth T20I between India and South Africa was abandoned in Lucknow on Wednesday due to dense smog and poor visibility. No toss was held, and not a single ball was bowled. Umpires inspected the ground six times over three hours before calling off the match. Visibility was very low, raising safety concerns for players. Air quality in the city remained hazardous, with AQI crossing 400. Fans waited in large numbers but left disappointed. The decision has sparked criticism of the BCCI for hosting winter matches in fog-prone cities. (PC: PTI)

Football legend Lionel Messi received a rare luxury watch during his visit to India. The watch was gifted during his visit to Vantara, a wildlife centre founded by Anant Ambani. It is a Richard Mille RM 003-V2 GMT Tourbillon Asia Edition. The watch costs about Rs 10.9 crore. Only 12 such watches exist worldwide. It has a tourbillon movement and dual time display. The watch also shows power reserve and torque levels. It is made using carbon and titanium. Several global leaders and sports icons own this model. Messi was later seen wearing the watch after receiving it. (PC: NDTV)

Star Indian cricketer Yashasvi Jaiswal was hospitalized with acute gastroenteritis following Mumbai's victory over Rajasthan in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy Super League match in Pune on Tuesday. After scoring 15 runs off 16 balls, Jaiswal experienced worsening stomach cramps post-match and was admitted to Aditya Birla Hospital in Pimpri-Chinchwad. He underwent CT and ultrasound tests, received IV medication, and was advised to rest and continue treatment. In three SMAT games, Jaiswal scored 145 runs at a 168.6 strike rate. Mumbai won the match by three wickets, chasing 217, with Ajinkya Rahane's unbeaten 72 and Sarfaraz Khan's explosive 22-ball 73 leading the charge. (PC: AP)