The IPL 2026 mini auction was held in Abu Dhabi on Tuesday. Kolkata Knight Riders made the biggest move by signing Cameron Green for Rs 25.20 crore. He became the most expensive overseas player in IPL history. Royal Challengers Bengaluru bought Venkatesh Iyer for Rs 7 crore after a short bidding war with KKR. Lucknow Super Giants picked Wanindu Hasaranga for Rs 2 crore at base price. Delhi Capitals began the auction by signing David Miller for Rs 2 crore. Several big names, including Liam Livingstone, went unsold in the early rounds. (PC: X)

The BCCI made a late change to the IPL 2026 auction list on Monday. It added 19 players less than a day before bidding starts in Abu Dhabi. The total pool now has 369 players. Franchise officials called the move unprecedented. Bengal captain Abhimanyu Easwaran was the key addition at a base price of ₹30 lakh. Several overseas players were also added, including Kyle Verreynne and Ben Sears. Nine players who were earlier removed were added back after team requests. Teams can buy up to 77 players if all squads are filled. The auction will begin later today as scheduled. (PC: HT)

Lionel Messi is set to visit Vantara in Jamnagar after completing the Delhi leg of his GOAT India Tour. Reports said Messi will stay for one night at the wildlife rescue centre, where he will be hosted by Anant Ambani. Messi is expected to be joined by teammates Luis Suarez and other members of his group. Vantara is a large animal rescue and care centre spread across thousands of acres in Jamnagar. The visit follows Messi’s appearance in New Delhi, where he interacted with fans at the Arun Jaitley Stadium. The tour has drawn large crowds across India. (PC: India Today)

Lionel Messi reached the Arun Jaitley Stadium in Delhi on Monday during Day 3 of his India tour. The football star met young players from Minerva Academy and posed for photos. The crowd cheered loudly as Messi addressed fans and thanked India for the warm welcome. He said the love he received was special and unforgettable. Messi stayed at the venue for a short time before leaving. During his visit, he also met ICC chairman Jay Shah and other officials. After the Delhi leg, Messi will travel to Vantara, where Anant Ambani will host him as part of the GOAT India Tour. (PC: X)

John Cena, the wrestling icon famous for his "You Can't See Me" catchphrase, has officially retired from professional wrestling after completing his final match in a 16-bout retirement tournament in Washington on Saturday night. The 48-year-old's departure concludes an illustrious 24-year career that established him as one of wrestling's biggest and most recognizable stars. Cena announced his retirement in July 2024, citing physical toll, saying his "body hurts" and is "screaming to close the chapter." Despite retiring from in-ring competition, he will remain connected to WWE after signing a five-year ambassador deal. Fans honored him with a standing ovation and thunderous applause. (PC: 10News.com)

India clinched its maiden squash World Cup title with a commanding 3-0 victory over top-seeded Hong Kong at Chennai's Express Avenue Mall on Sunday. The historic triumph marks India's best-ever performance in the competition, surpassing its previous bronze medal finish in 2023. Playing before a vociferous home crowd, the Indian team delivered a clinical display to overwhelm their opponents in the first-ever final meeting between the two nations. Hong Kong also achieved their best finish at the event, improving from an eighth-place finish two years ago. The packed venue witnessed India's emphatic performance that showcased the host nation's growing dominance in international squash. (PC: X)

Lionel Messi's Delhi tour finale sparked a meme fest as the capital's dense smog and near-zero visibility greeted the football icon on Monday. With AQI hitting severe levels and temperatures dropping to 8.2°C, social media erupted with humorous takes. One viral meme read: "Your left leg is insured for $900 million, what about your lungs?" Another joked: "Messi has 896 career goals. Tomorrow Delhi's AQI will beat that." Fans shared blank images captioned as photos of Messi and Virat Kohli, implying they'd be invisible in pollution. The Delhi visit contrasts sharply with Mumbai's smooth December 14 event at Wankhede Stadium.

Lionel Messi couldn't contain his laughter as Mumbai schoolgirls showcased impressive footwork against Luis Suarez during his India GOAT tour at Wankhede Stadium on December 14. In a viral video, the girls from a local football team stunned Suarez by deftly passing the ball around him, with one player executing a nutmeg kicking the ball through his legs. Suarez appeared momentarily bewildered by their speed and skill, while Messi grinned widely from the sidelines. The Instagram video, captioned "Suarez shocked, girl rocked," sparked social media reactions, with one user joking, "I think he bit her," referencing Suarez's infamous 2014 World Cup biting incident.

Lionel Messi created a viral moment at Mumbai's Wankhede Stadium by gifting his Argentina jersey to Indian football legend Sunil Chhetri, drawing massive cheers. During his India G.O.A.T tour stop, Messi exchanged gifts with cricket icon Sachin Tendulkar, presenting him a replica football from Argentina's 2022 World Cup victory while receiving Tendulkar's 2011 World Cup-winning jersey. The gesture toward Chhetri, India's greatest footballer, particularly resonated with fans. Messi's tour, which started chaotically in Kolkata with poor management and vandalism, improved through Hyderabad before the successful Mumbai event. His tour concludes December 15 in Delhi, featuring meetings with PM Modi and Virat Kohli.

Lionel Messi's Kolkata visit turned chaotic after serious security lapses at Salt Lake Stadium forced his exit within 22 minutes. A Times of India report reveals Messi felt a "serious threat" when selfie-seeking police officers and VIP pass holders swarmed him, with one autograph-seeker's pen scratching his body. Politicians and organizers, given liberal VIP access, clutched Messi's hand for selfies while he tried greeting the 60,000-strong crowd. When a woman rushed for an autograph triggering a crush, his manager said "vida" (life in Spanish), signaling danger. Organizer Satadru Dutta is now in custody for mismanagement. Furious fans caused Rs 2.5 crore in vandalism damages.