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Berlin, June 5 (IANS) Four-time champions Germany heads to the FIFA World Cup looking to move beyond the disappointments of 2018 and 2022, while a resilient Ecuador side that proved throughout qualifying it gives nothing away will provide a stern test to its Group E rivals. Cote d’Ivoire also possesses enough quality to trouble any opponent, while Curacao is shaping up as one of the tournament’s potential Cinderella stories.

Germany:

Germany enters the World Cup looking to restore its reputation after group-stage exits in 2018 and 2022.

Former England striker Gary Lineker once said football was a game of 11 against 11, and in the end, the Germans win. However, that was not the case in the last two World Cups. Coach Julian Nagelsmann now has the task of guiding Die Mannschaft back toward its old standards.

There were signs of progress at Euro 2024, where Germany pushed eventual champion Spain to extra time. Although it lost its opening World Cup qualifier to Slovakia, Germany recovered to win its next five matches, scoring 16 goals and conceding just once, according to Xinhua.

Nagelsmann has a squad blending youth and experience, with Florian Wirtz and Jamal Musiala supported by established figures such as Joshua Kimmich and Antonio Rudiger.

Star player:

Bayern Munich winger Musiala is one of the jewels of German football and among the most exciting talents in the world. His close control, balance and ability to beat defenders make him difficult to contain and thrilling to watch.

Player to watch:

Wirtz endured a difficult debut season at Liverpool after a big-money move, with injuries and adaptation issues slowing his progress. But he improved after the winter break and, at his best, complements Musiala by providing goals, assists and creativity between the lines.

Ecuador

The team:

Ecuador will hope to advance beyond the round of 16 for the first time in its fifth World Cup appearance, having reached that stage only once before, in 2006, and exiting at the group stage in 2002, 2014 and 2022.

Coach Sebastian Beccacece has built a solid, physical team that gives little away in defense. Ecuador began qualifying with a 1-0 defeat to Argentina, then went on a run of three wins and two draws, conceding only two goals. La Tricolor eventually finished second in the standings with eight wins, eight draws and two defeats from 18 matches.

Just five goals conceded in those 18 matches underline its defensive strength, but only 14 goals scored points to a lack of attacking punch.

Star player:

Enner Valencia will be one of the veterans of the tournament, but the 36-year-old remains central to Ecuador’s attack. He marked his 100th appearance for his country by scoring the penalty in a 1-0 win over Argentina in the final round of the South American Qualifiers, further cementing his status as an Ecuador great.

Player to watch:

Moises Caicedo has had a difficult year with Chelsea, but he was still among the club’s more consistent performers. Disciplined, energetic and technically gifted, he will be the midfield anchor for a team built more on collective strength than individual brilliance.

Cote D’ivoire

The team:

Cote d’Ivoire, like Ecuador, is trying to advance from the group stage for the first time in its history at the fourth attempt. The African side returns to the World Cup for the first time since 2014.

Its opening match against Ecuador could be decisive in the fight for second place in the group.

The Elephants enjoyed a comfortable qualifying campaign, scoring 25 goals and not conceding in 10 matches, although 16 of those goals came against Seychelles. Like Ecuador, Emerse Fae’s side is not averse to winning 1-0.

Fae has built a team comfortable in possession but also capable of sitting deep, absorbing pressure and breaking quickly. That tactical flexibility could be vital.

Star player:

Amad Diallo confirmed his Premier League quality this season, playing a key role in Manchester United’s revival. Able to operate on either wing, he has the pace, skill and composure to beat defenders and score important goals.

Player to watch:

RB Leipzig winger Yan Diomande is one of Europe’s most exciting young players. The 19-year-old has blistering pace and an eye for goal, and a strong World Cup could accelerate interest from some of the continent’s biggest clubs.

Curacao

The team:

Curacao is one of the clearest examples of a team to benefit from FIFA’s expansion of the World Cup to 48 teams, with the island of some 158,000 people edging past Jamaica in CONCACAF qualifying.

Its Dutch connections have helped in football terms, and coach Dick Advocaat brings huge experience. At 78, Advocaat has worked across the world and will need all that knowledge as Curacao enters the tournament as the clear underdog in the group.

Its opening match against Germany will be a baptism of fire, but Curacao showed character in reaching the finals.

Star player:

The instantly recognizable Tahith Chong is the best-known player in the squad. The midfielder, now with Sheffield United, previously spent time with Manchester United, Club Brugge, Werder Bremen and Luton Town.

An attacking midfielder by trade, Chong may have to operate deeper at the World Cup as Curacao looks to stay compact against stronger opponents.

Player to watch:

Middlesbrough winger Sontje Hansen was born in the Netherlands but switched allegiance to Curacao in late 2025. A product of Ajax’s youth system, he should bring pace, width and technical quality to the side.

–IANS

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New Delhi, June 5 (IANS) India head coach Gautam Gambhir supported the ICC’s decision of trialling the switch from a red ball to a pink ball when bad light threatens a Test match, calling it a “proactive and positive move.” 

During its board meeting on Monday, the ICC has approved a trial of switching from a red ball to a pink ball before the start of a Test that is likely to be affected by bad light, subject to prior agreement from both teams, to maximise play in case of anticipated bad light.

“I love that because I’ve always believed that if there’s an opportunity to get a result, you should always have that opportunity. Imagine if you are playing the last Test match before the World Test Championship final and you have the chance to win that Test match to qualify, and because of bad light, it’s not happening. So I’m all for it,” Gambhir said on the eve of India’s one-off Test against Afghanistan, starting on Saturday.

Until now, pink balls have only been used in day-night Test matches, which are mostly played in Australia. However, a new trial will allow teams to switch from a red ball to a pink ball during a standard day Test. This change aims to keep play going under stadium lights when it gets too dark, minimising the time and overs lost to bad light.

“If there’s an opportunity to get the result, if both teams agree to it… I know it could be a little unfair and difficult for the players, but imagine working hard for two years and the last Test match before the World Test Championship final; if you don’t play five days because of bad light, how unfair that could be. So I think it’s a proactive move, it’s a positive move, and, hopefully, the teams will start taking it in a positive way,” he added.

–IANS

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Dambulla, June 5 (IANS) The India ‘A’ team, led by Tilak Varma, has landed in Sri Lanka ahead of the upcoming 50-over tri-series, to be played at the Rangiri Dambulla International Cricket Stadium (RDICS) from June 9-21.

India ‘A’ will open its campaign against hosts Sri Lanka ‘A’ on June 9, with Afghanistan ‘A’ completing the three‑team field. The final is slated to be played on June 21. Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) shared images of the likes of Varma, Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, Ruturaj Gaikwad and Anukul Roy arriving in the country.

“India ‘A’ Team has arrived in Sri Lanka ahead of the upcoming Tri-Nation Series at RDICS. Ready to showcase their skills and compete in what promises to be a thrilling tournament. Let the action begin,” wrote the SLC on its social media accounts on Friday.

The India ‘A’ squad saw two significant changes being made before arriving in Sri Lanka – Harsh Dubey being given a call-up to the Test and ODI teams for the series against Afghanistan led to Roy being included in the team.

Later, Gaikwad was drafted in as vice‑captain after Riyan Parag was ruled out due to a hamstring injury. Parag, who carried the niggle through the latter stages of IPL 2026 while leading Rajasthan Royals, will undergo rehabilitation at the BCCI Centre of Excellence (CoE) in Bengaluru.

Apart from Varma, Gaikwad, and Anshul Kamboj being the capped India players in the ‘A’ team, the likes of Sooryavanshi, Priyansh Arya, Prabhsimran Singh, Ayush Badoni, and Nishant Sindhu will look to make their mark in the tri-series. IANS also understands that Hrishikesh Kanitkar, Sunil Joshi, Lakshmipathy Balaji, and Shubhadeep Ghosh will be the coaches of the India ‘A’ team for the tri-series in Sri Lanka.

India A squad: Tilak Varma (captain), Ruturaj Gaikwad (vc), Priyansh Arya, Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, Ayush Badoni, Nishant Sindhu, Suryansh Shedge, Prabhsimran Singh (wk), Kumar Kushagra (wk), Vipraj Nigam, Yash Thakur, Yudhvir Singh, Anshul Kamboj, Arshad Khan, and Anukul Roy.

–IANS

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New Chandigarh, June 5 (IANS) India head coach Gautam Gambhir has thrown his weight behind young batter Sai Sudharsan, confirming that the left-hander will occupy the crucial No. 3 position in the one-off Test against Afghanistan beginning here from Saturday.

Speaking ahead of the match, Gambhir stressed the need to show patience with Sudharsan, who is set to get another opportunity in a batting slot that has remained unsettled since Cheteshwar Pujara’s exit from the Test side.

“Sai Sudharsan hasn’t got a fair chance. He played in England. We will give him a longer rope,” Gambhir said during the pre-match press conference.

Asked if Padikkal get a chance given his red-ball form, Gambhir said he would get his chance when the time was right, Gambhir said, “You can only pick XI, unfortunately. Sometimes you just have to wait for your opportunity. I’ve always believed that guys who we are going to play, we give them a fair run. And again, Sai is not in bad form either. He has got, what, 700 (722) runs in IPL. If judging players by only four or five Test matches is good enough, then I feel that we will never be able to build something.”

“So, hopefully, he (Padikkal) will get his chance. Whenever his time comes, we’ll give him a fair run as well. It’s not about giving someone five Test matches and someone else one Test match. If we give someone a fair run, we’ll give the other guy whenever he gets the opportunity comes a fair run as well. But, at the moment, I think we’ve got to give Sai a fair run. He’s a world-class player and I’m sure he’ll come good,” he added.

India have struggled to find a permanent occupant for the No. 3 spot since Pujara’s departure. Since then, several batters have been tried in the position, including Shubman Gill, Washington Sundar, Dhruv Jurel, Devdutt Padikkal and Sudharsan.

Gill enjoyed the longest run at one-drop before moving to No. 4 after taking over the Test captaincy following the retirements of Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma from the longest format.

Sudharsan has featured in six Tests so far, and averages just over 27, but the team management remains confident about his long-term prospects.

Despite India’s current position of sixth in the World Test Championship standings with 48.15 per cent of the available points, Gambhir maintained that the side remains firmly in contention for a place in the final.

“We believe that we can win the WTC. There is talent and hunger in this team,” Gambhir said.

Gambhir also revealed that the Afghanistan Test would help the team management assess spin-bowling options ahead of the upcoming two-Test series in Sri Lanka. Left-arm spinners Manav Suthar and Harsh Dubey are competing for a place in the squad.

“Manav and Harsh are to a certain extent similar but different also in terms of release points. This match gives us a chance to determine our fourth spinner as we will take four spinners in Sri Lanka,” he said.

–IANS

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El Jadida (Morocco), June 6 (IANS) Karandeep Kochhar of India posted a fine round of 6-under 66 and positioned himself in the tied second place after the first day of the USD 500,000 IGPL Bharath Classic at the Mazagan Beach & Golf Resort. The 26-year-old from Chandigarh is one shot behind the leader, Thailand’s Runchanapong Youprayong, who carded 7-under 65 that included eight birdies against one bogey.

Kochhar, a four-time winner in India, added a breakthrough win on the IGPL Tour late last year with a victory in IGPL Dubai hosted by Shiv Kapur. Kochhar had a four-birdie streak early in the round from the second hole and turned in 5-under 31, before picking two more birdies against one bogey in his second nine for a 66.

Sharing the second place with Kochhar were Australia’s Will Florimo and Austria’s Nicklas Regner.

Thai star Runchanapong, who came into this week’s event with a fine showing last week – a third place IGPL Morocco Rising Stars, benefitted from the experience of having played here, and took a one-shot lead in the IGPL Bharath Classic at the same venue.

The next best Indian in the field was Aryan Roopa Anand, who armed with confidence that leapfrogged since his win at the IGPL Congo, shot 4-under 68 despite two bogeys. He had six birdies including three in a row on the front nine of the course from the third to the fifth.

–IANS

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One of IGPL’s marquee stars, Kochhar missed the cut last week but is hoping to make up for it, said, “I think I played really well overall. I drove it well, hit the irons well and putted well, because I think last week I struggled with my putting.”

“I put in a lot of work over the weekend and the first few days on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday as well. So I think all of that, all of that work really showed. in today’s round. The course wasn’t playing that easy, I would say, especially midway through the round. It was really windy and that whole, that stretch of 12, 13, 14, 15 is not easy.”

He added, “I am looking forward to the next few rounds. The course is in great shape. It’s not short, it’s quite windy, the greens are good. So looking forward to the next couple of days.”

Other prominent Indians were Shaurya Bhattacharya, Raghav Chugh and young Kartik Singh, who all shot 2-under 70 each to be Tied-24th.

Trishul Chinnappa, Harendra Gupta, former Indian Open winner, C Muniyappa and amateur Jai Bahl shot 1-under 71 each and were T-50 on a well-contested leader board.

Some of the bigger names had a rough start and it included four-time IGPL winner and 11-time Asian Tour winner, Gaganjeet Bhullar, who carded 3-over 75 as did six-time Asian Tour winner, SSP Chawrasia. They were T-107 and needed a strong second round to stay on for the weekend.

Leader Runchanapong (65) started from the first tee and had four birdies on either side of the 7,448-yard course that runs along the scenic course. He birdied two of the first three holes before making his only bogey of the day on the par-4 fourth. He was six-under par for his last 11 holes.

“I felt like I hit in good positions quite a lot, and I planned my way around the golf course pretty well,” said Runchanapong. “That was the key takeaway that I learned from last week – where I want to leave the golf shot.”

Sharing the second place with Kochhar were Florimo and Regner. Last year Regner, like Kochhar, won an ADT event in Egypt last year, and has made some swing changes with his coach in Austria. Florimo won the Heritage Classic on the PGA Tour of Australasia earlier this season, so he is good form, too.

Three players, including the in-form duo South Africa’s Ian Snyman and New Zealand’s Nick Voke, were tied fifth alongside Australian Jed Morgan with cards of five-under 67.

The tournament is part of a three-event swing which has been called the ‘North African Adventure’ with three events in three weeks in Morocco. The events are co-sanctioned by the Indian Premier Golf League (IGPL) and the Asian Tour.

After back-to-back tournaments at Mazagan Beach & Golf Resort, built on the Atlantic coast of Morocco, the Asian Tour will move to Rabat next week for the USD 2 million International Series Morocco.

New Chandigarh, June 5 (IANS) India head coach Gautam Gambhir has broken his silence on Rishabh Pant’s removal as Test vice-captain, saying that the team management does not want the wicketkeeper-batter to change his natural style of play, but the 28-year-old must improve his ability to read match situations in international cricket.

Pant was replaced by KL Rahul as India’s Test vice-captain ahead of the one-off Test against Afghanistan, a move that sparked widespread debate. The leadership change came after the left-hander endured a disappointing Test series against South Africa, where India were whitewashed 0-2, and a below-par IPL 2026 season with the Lucknow Super Giants.

Addressing the issue during a pre-match press conference, Gambhir made it clear that the team management continues to back Pant’s aggressive approach.

“And, as far as Rishabh is concerned, we will expect him to be the way he is. It’s not like we will tell him to work on his game. But, in international cricket, it’s very important to read the situation,” he said.

“At that time, what kind of situation was there, and what kind of situation demands a certain shot. But, it’s not like any player is told to play a completely different game than his natural game,” he added.

The India coach said players across formats must ultimately focus on contributing to the team’s success.

“Whether it’s test cricket, one-day cricket, or T20 cricket. The ultimate aim is to make a run and take a wicket. You can never get away from that. No matter how you make it, it’s up to you. But it’s very important to read the situation and the game,” he said.

Gambhir also played down the significance of leadership roles, insisting that captaincy and vice-captaincy are secondary to performing for the country.

“See, responsibility is only for playing for India. Everything else is a by-product. Captaincy, vice-captaincy, all these are by-products. When you start playing for India, you don’t think about vice-captaincy or captaincy from day one. You think about doing good for India. So, going from one to the other is only a by-product,” he added.

Meanwhile, Pant, 28, is preparing to play his 50th Test match against Afghanistan in New Chandigarh starting on Saturday. In 49 Tests, Pant has amassed 3476 runs at an average of 42.91 and strike-rate of 74.24, including hitting eight centuries and 18 fifties.

–IANS

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Indore, June 5 (IANS) Gwalior Cheetahs captain Rajat Patidar has lauded the Madhya Pradesh League (MPL) for playing a crucial role in identifying and developing young cricketing talent across the state.

Speaking after leading the Gwalior Cheetahs in their opening match of MPL Season 3 against Ujjain Falcons at the Holkar Stadium, Patidar highlighted how the tournament has become an important platform for aspiring cricketers to showcase their abilities and progress to higher levels of the game.

“At least 10-11 players from here are now playing in the IPL, and around 5-6 new players have emerged through this league. Many players have not only got opportunities but have also gone on to dominate at higher levels. It’s a really good sign for cricket,” Patidar said.

The 32-year-old batter, who has become one of Madhya Pradesh’s most successful cricketing exports, believes the league has significantly strengthened the state’s cricket structure by providing consistent exposure to young players in a competitive environment.

Patidar also reflected on his special bond with the Holkar Stadium, a venue that holds immense significance in his cricketing journey.

“Whenever I come to the Holkar Stadium, I always enjoy it because I started my career from here. I have a lot of memories attached to this ground,” he said.

The Gwalior Cheetahs skipper expressed his appreciation for the enthusiastic turnout during the tournament opener and hoped the support would continue throughout the season.

“The atmosphere was really good. It was great to see so many fans coming to watch the match. Their support motivates all the players, and I am sure the crowd will keep growing as the tournament progresses,” Patidar added.

Patidar is playing the tournament after guiding Royal Challengers Bengaluru to their second consecutive IPL trophy as skipper. He also became only the third captain after Rohit Sharma and MS Dhoni to win two trophies in a row in IPL history.

–IANS

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New Delhi, June 5 (IANS) Former All India Football Federation (AIFF) general secretary Shaji Prabhakaran has urged India to transform its periodic FIFA World Cup enthusiasm into a sustained movement for football development, saying the country must celebrate the sport throughout the year rather than only during the multinational event every four years.

In a column ahead of the FIFA World Cup 2026, Prabhakaran said football becomes hugely popular in India every four years, but much of that interest disappears once the tournament ends.

“Football must become part of everyday life in India rather than a four-year carnival. When football is celebrated 365 days a year, it becomes part of the country’s cultural bloodstream. That is the level of adoption India should seek,” Prabhakaran wrote in a column on his blog.

He noted that during the World Cup, television channels, newspapers, and social media are full of discussions about football, with many people asking why India has not yet qualified for the tournament.

However, he said the same level of attention is often missing when the Indian national team plays important matches or when Indian football faces challenges.

“FIFA World Cup motivates India to envision a new era for football in the country. Newspapers dedicate entire pages to the event, social media is flooded with analysis and fandom, television channels transform football into a national craze, and prominent figures from various sectors suddenly become enthusiastic commentators on the sport. During this period, India seems like one of the world’s great football cultures,” the former AIFF secretary wrote.

“However, beneath this spectacle lies an uncomfortable truth: much of this enthusiasm is temporary. The same individuals who fervently question why India is not part of the World Cup often remain silent when the Indian national team plays important matches, when clubs face survival challenges, and when the sport requires consistent, grassroots support,” he added.

The 54-year-old pointed to the qualification of smaller nations such as Cape Verde and Curaçao for the expanded 48-team FIFA World Cup 2026 as evidence that football success is determined more by planning and governance than by population size.

“Football success is not solely determined by population size. Vision, structure, coaching, scouting, development pathways, administrative competence, governance standards, and long-term execution are far more significant. Smaller nations can qualify by aligning talent with strategy and planning. India cannot continue using size as a comfort while ignoring the systems that transform passion into performance,” he added.

According to Prabhakaran, India should prioritise grassroots development, coaching pathways, stable competitions, sports science and transparent governance, while making qualification for major youth tournaments a key national objective.

“If India wants to compete seriously on the global stage in the coming decade, then qualifying consistently for major youth tournaments must become a national objective,” he wrote.

“The men’s and women’s Under-17 national teams should be developed with the specific ambition of reaching future FIFA U-17 World Cups,” he added.

Concluding his column, Prabhakaran urged Indians to use the FIFA World Cup 2026 as a starting point for building a stronger football culture in the country.

“The World Cup can be the spark, but sparks do not sustain themselves. They must be safeguarded, nourished, and transformed into a lasting flame. Let this tournament be more than just a celebration of other nations. Let it mark the start of a stronger football culture in India, one that honours the national team, empowers young players, respects and builds a robust fan base, and works tirelessly until the dream of seeing India on football’s biggest stage is no longer distant, but inevitable,” he wrote.

“Celebrate the FIFA World Cup! Support Indian Football! Enjoy the event starting on 11th June, celebrate the sport, and find a purpose in backing Indian football,” he concluded.

–IANS

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Kakamigahara, June 5 (IANS) After an intense and well-fought 2-2 draw over four quarters, India women suffered a 1-3 defeat in a shootout against China in their semifinal of the U18 Asia Cup on Friday. Nousheen Naz (3′) and Kiran Ekka (54′) scored the goals for India while Li ZeYan (24′) and Zhang Yuzheng (48′) were the goalscorers for China.

India made a bright start in the first quarter, securing the opening goal in the third minute itself. Captain Sweety Kujur played a brilliant pass from the midfield to Nousheen (3′) inside the circle who delivered a strong back-handed shot into the net to give India an early lead. Both sides did well in the midfield to create good opportunities inside the circle but couldn’t find another goal in the opening quarter.

China were awarded a penalty corner in the 21st minute but Feng Jiaxin’s dragflick was beautifully saved by Indian goalkeeper Mahak Parihar. Three minutes later, however, China found the equaliser due to a defensive error by India in the 24th minute, which China’s Li ZeYan capitalised on to level the game with a field goal.

In the third quarter, China were awarded a penalty corner in the 34th minute but the Indian backline showed great resilience to deny them the opportunity to take lead. China held more of the possession in the following minutes but couldn’t break the deadlock.

In the 43rd minute India received consecutive penalty corners, but could not breach the Chinese post. Despite multiple chances at both ends, the match remained tied at 1-1 as the teams entered the fourth quarter.

The third minute of the final quarter saw China go ahead through a penalty corner. Although the initial shot was blocked by India’s first rusher, the ball went to China’s Zhang Yuzheng (48′) on the rebound, and she delivered a calm finish to give her side a slim advantage.

However, China’s lead only lasted for a few minutes as India’s Kiran (54′) converted a penalty corner to equalise and it remained 2-2 at full-time, with shootout to decide the winner.

China defeated India 3-1 in the shootout courtesy of some brilliant saves by their goalkeeper Liu Xue. Lu Tong Tong, Ge Chen and Guo Jiaxin converted their chances in the shootout for China while Sandeepa Kumari was the only player for India to score in the shootout.

The second women’s semi-final will be played between Japan and Korea. India will take on the loser of that match for the bronze medal on June 6.

–IANS

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New Delhi, June 5 (IANS) In what will be a bizzare turn of events, fans have booked FIFA World Cup 2026 tickets at “no cost” due to a website glitch, while FIFA regrets the error and then asked fans for complete payment to avoid missing the opportunity to attend the global showpiece.

Football’s world governing body said that around 60 supporters had purchased tickets at “0 USD” due to a checkout error, which was later cancelled, and FIFA demanded fans pay up the correct amount to reclaim the ticket.

“FIFA can confirm that approximately 60 FIFA World Cup 2026 fans received a communication on Wednesday, 3 June, regarding tickets that had been allocated at no charge (0 USD) due to a prior payment issue during the checkout process.

“The tickets requested by these fans remain reserved, and the affected fans have been invited to complete payment of the correct amount. FIFA regrets the error and any inconvenience caused,” FIFA said in a statement.

According to an purported email from FIFA, posted online by Ticket Talk Network, the tickets affected by the “pricing inaccuracy” have been cancelled, and fans will be given a full refund for all payments made in connection with these ticket orders.

“We identified and resolved an issue with ticket pricing that affected a small number of tickets sold on FIFA.com/tickets on 21 May 2026. This issue caused certain tickets to be displayed with inaccurate prices at checkout and in the completed transaction records.

“You have been identified as a customer who purchased a ticket affected by this pricing inaccuracy. In accordance with the Terms of Sale for the General Public, all ticket orders that included tickets with inaccurate prices have been cancelled. You will receive a full refund for all payments made in connection with these ticket orders,” the email read.

According to the e-mail, the cancelled tickets have been reserved, and the fans can reclaim them by purchasing at a correct price.

“To ensure you do not miss the opportunity to attend the FIFA World Cup 2026, we have reserved the same ticket(s) for you to purchase at the correct price. This ticket(s) will be available for purchase through your FIFA ticketing account for 7 days from the date of this message. If the purchase is not completed within this period, the reserved ticket(s) will be removed from your account,” the email further read.

This incident follows well-documented concerns over high ticket prices for the FIFA World Cup 2026. In April, FIFA’s resale site has four tickets on sale for the World Cup final for just under USD 2.3 million each. The USD 2,299,998.85 seats for the July 19 match at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey, are located behind a goal in the lower deck in Block 124, Row 45, Seats 33-36.

–IANS

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New Delhi, June 5 (IANS) Former cricketer and national selector Devang Gandhi on Friday hailed Rishabh Pant as the finest wicket-keeper batter India has ever seen in Tests, saying the southpaw’s match-winning knock at the Gabba in 2021 would remain etched in his memory forever.

Pant, 28, is preparing to play his 50th Test match against Afghanistan in New Chandigarh starting on Saturday. In 49 Tests, Pant has amassed 3476 runs at an average of 42.91 and strike-rate of 74.24, including hitting eight centuries and 18 fifties.

But his milestone Test comes at a time when the past few months haven’t been good for him. He had a forgetful time with the bat and as a captain for Lucknow Super Giants in IPL 2026, even as he lost the vice-captaincy in Tests to KL Rahul.

During the Tests against South Africa and the Border‑Gavaskar Trophy series in Australia, Pant’s high‑risk approach drew scrutiny at times. But the shift from IPL’s chaos to the grind of Test cricket now offers Pant a chance to reset and be at his blistering best with the bat.

“See, to be honest, Rishabh got the captaincy because Shubman was injured. In all fairness, he was vice-captain. He had a fantastic England trip. Unfortunately, he couldn’t play the entire series because of that injury. I feel that what happened with him in the IPL, I think selectors are looking at him where he can just discover himself back as a batsman.

“It’s because we know how impactful a player he is as far as Test matches are concerned. With his batting, he single-handedly won us so many matches. So, if he can rediscover that touch, I think that is what selectors are looking at as always we have to look at the bigger picture.

“Sometimes, it’s a tough call you’re taking, but it’s for the larger interest of the game. I’m sure, knowing Ajit, he must have conveyed it to Rishabh before announcing it and it is for the good of the team and good for Rishabh as well,” Gandhi said in an exclusive conversation with IANS on Friday.

Gandhi, who was the national selector when Pant made his Test debut against England at Trent Bridge in 2018, said his great overseas Tests record is a testimony to his extraordinary impact in the longer format for India, while also singling out the often-overlooked improvement in his glove work.

“It’s very heartening to see the way he has evolved as a Test cricketer, the impact he has made on world cricket and playing 50 Test matches – it’s a significant milestone. If you look at his performance overseas basically, whether just South Africa, England, even in Australia, he has played some very impactful match-winning knocks.

“So that was very nice to see and also, nobody talks about his wicket-keeping. The way he has improved his keeping – whether it is India or abroad, he has been rock-solid as a wicket-keeper. The only thing that I can wish is that this 50 he converts it into a 100.

“In whatever cricket I have seen, whatever Indian history as far as wicket-keeping batsmen is concerned, I think Rishabh is probably the best wicket-keeper batter India has ever seen so far,” he added.

Asked to pick his defining memory of Pant in Tests, Gandhi did not hesitate in mentioning the breach of the Gabba fortress in January 2021, when Pant hit 89 not out off 138 balls as India chased down 328 to pull off a heist and get an epic 2-1 series win over Australia.

“I would definitely recall the Test match at Gabba. The way he played that knock and he turned it around. So winning that series despite all the things going around – India was missing a lot of senior cricketers. On the final day, he believed that he’s going to single-handedly win the match, which he did.

“Although he got a lot of support in the start and in the middle as well, but to stay till the end and win in Australia against their full side, I think that was the memory which will always remain in my memory, to be honest. I’ll always remember that very fondly,” he added.

Gandhi also celebrated Pant’s exuberant personality on the field, saying cricket needed characters like him, not robots. “Also, one thing, I like his celebration after he gets a milestone. I mean, after he gets 100, I like to see that somersault, as we just want characters on the cricket field. We don’t want robots, right? So he brings that flair.

“He has his own style and the way he plays some shots, he knows how it works for him and that has yielded results for him. I just wish him a lot of luck as far as health and fitness is concerned. Unfortunately, like we saw last year in England, he was doing so well and then he had a setback. So I just wish him really well and I hope this fifty will be converted into a hundred,” Gandhi added.

On Pant’s recent struggles in white-ball cricket, with Ishan Kishan also taking his place as the second keeper in ODIs, Gandhi said the remedy lay in introspection and a return to basics. “If you look at his early part of the career, as you rightly mentioned that he used to play a lot of shots on the offside, he used to drive and those things may have gone amiss.

“Sometimes in T20, you’re trying too hard. I think he just needs to take some time with himself, do a little bit of introspection, and look at his old videos. Then I’m sure, you just keep working on your basics. Whenever a player is out of form, he needs to just go back to the basics.

“It’s not that he has to change a great deal as he knows how to score runs, which is how we played 50 Test matches. So, I think these two-three Test matches that he’s going to play before going to New Zealand are going to be very crucial,” he said.

Further asked on how Pant can evolve his white-ball game, Gandhi said, “Like playing in the V, as we always talk of the basics, and playing close to the body – these are some of the basics to work on because sometimes in white ball, you tend to throw your bat and all sorts of mistakes do creep in – like tending to play away from the body.

“So, there’s not much control over the shot and I think he’ll have to focus on the basics, and come up with a very clear mind. Whatever is in the past can’t be undone – look at what’s ahead and the idea is to be in the present. I mean, see, the range of shots that he has, he can try to play well against spinners.

“Importantly, if you look at his Test record, the way he’s batted is known to all. So, when it comes to white ball, he’s underachieved a little bit. I mean, I’m sure he’ll ponder over it. He’ll do introspection and knowing him, he’s going to come back stronger and harder,” he concluded.

–IANS

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New Delhi, June 5 (IANS) Former India cricketer and national selector Devang Gandhi said teenaged left-handed opener Vaibhav Sooryavanshi has to be rewarded with an India T20I cap, adding that he has ticked all boxes and could even one day terrorise Test match bowlers as well.

Sooryavanshi, who was the Player of the Tournament in India winning the 2026 U19 Men’s Cricket World Cup, is poised to become the youngest cricketer in an India men’s squad since Sachin Tendulkar’s debut in 1989. He had an outstanding time while playing for Rajasthan Royals in IPL 2026, where he amassed 776 runs at a staggering strike rate of 237.30. Sooryavanshi, 15, will next turn out for India A in the 50-over tri‑series against Afghanistan ‘A’ and hosts Sri Lanka ‘A’ from June 9 to 21 in Dambulla.

“I think the way to handle him is reward him with an India cap because the way he’s performed in the last two years – he’s hitting all the top bowlers of the world. In the first year, a lot of people said that was the first year. But look at the way he’s hitting. He’s hitting in front, right? He’s playing all authentic shots.

“What was heartening for me to see is that if you remember his last two knocks, he got 27-ball 94 (97). In the last game, in Qualifier 2 where RR lost, he got 90-odd (96). But in different circumstances, right? There were wickets falling from the other end. He was rotating the strike. So, if required, he can shift gears, which is more alarming for world cricket, right?” Gandhi said in an exclusive conversation with IANS on Friday.

Looking ahead, Gandhi believes Sooryavanshi’s further development as a cricketer would require exposure to the 50-over and red-ball formats through India A set-up, while focus should also be on improving his fielding.

“A boy who is so mature that he can even take singles, play the situation, yet maintain a strike rate of 200-plus, right? So, for me, he has ticked all the boxes. One aspect which he can still work on is his fielding because we haven’t seen him field a lot during IPLs, right?

“But also going ahead for his holistic development as a cricketer, I’m sure there will be plans to make him play more of India A games as well, whether it is the 50-over format or the red-ball.

“A player of that calibre, that talent definitely needs to be groomed, counselled, so that we can see him more. Can you imagine him playing Test matches with the same authority? Not exactly like that. But even half of it, it’ll be such a delight to watch him playing Test cricket,” he said.

At the same time, Gandhi allowed himself to dream of what Sooryavanshi could do in Test cricket. “It will be the bowlers who will be having heart attacks, right? They must be wondering how to stop this boy. I mean, he is absolutely marvellous. I mean, I am running out of superlatives to describe such a young boy.

“He is taking all the bowlers to the cleaners, basically, whether it is spinners, fast bowlers and the authority with which he is batting is really pleasing to me. As I said, we are running out of adjectives, superlatives, and ways to describe him. But he is simply mind-boggling.”

Apart from Sooryavanshi, Rajat Patidar will also be in huge focus after being the driving force behind Royal Challengers Bengaluru’s successful defence of their IPL crown as both captain and batter. But with Shreyas Iyer in equally good form, how the selectors could accommodate Patidar remains to be seen.

“He’s made a big boost for his case because the way he’s performed, and the way he’s led the side to back-to-back IPL trophies is a fantastic achievement. The way he’s performed under pressure when you’re defending a trophy is never easy,” Gandhi said.

“I think selectors will definitely reward him with a place in the squad. I don’t know whether he’ll feature in the playing XI or not, but I think definitely on the basis of his performance, he definitely deserves a spot,” added Gandhi.

–IANS

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