Desi Talk

Cricket-Markram’s Fifty In Vain As India Beat South Africa By Seven Wickets I ndia beat South Africa by seven wick- ets on Sunday to take a 2-1 lead in the T20 series after their bowlers skittled the tourists for 117, with Indian pacer Arshdeep Singh’s performance setting up the platform for a dominant win for the hosts in Dharamsala. After being asked to bat, South Africa struggled to build partnerships with all six Indian bowlers taking wickets. Captain Aiden Markram scored more than half of his team’s total, with his 61 off 46 helping the visitors cross the 100-run mark. In reply, Abhishek Sharma and Shub- man Gill gave a strong start to India, and despite South Africa putting pressure with disciplined bowling in the middle overs, the hosts chased down the total in just 15.5 overs. “I stuck to the basics and I trusted my skillset,” Arshdeep, who registered figures of 2-13 in his four overs, said after being named the player of the match. “I kept things simple, pitched the ball in the right areas and tried to get as much help as I could from the wicket.” SOUTH AFRICA TOP ORDER COLLAPSE Jasprit Bumrah was unavailable for the game after the Indian cricket board said he returned home for personal reasons, with his availability for the rest of the series to be decided in due course. Bumrah’s replacement Harshit Rana rocked South Africa’s top order with quick dismissals of Quinton de Kock and De- wald Brevis, shortly after Arshdeep used an lbw review to send Reeza Hendricks back for a duck. Hardik Pandya picked his 100th T20 wicket with Tristan Stubbs’ dismissal, while Varun Chakravarthy reached the 50-wicket mark in the format by knock- ing down pinch-hitter Donovan Ferreira’s stumps. Markram tried to fire back in the final overs with two sixes off Rana to reach his half-century. But he edged Arshdeep’s delivery to keeper Jitesh Sharma in the next over. Spinner Kuldeep Yadav picked up the final two wickets and South Africa could only set a target of 118 for India. COMFORTABLE RUN CHASE In response, Abhishek unleashed his shots straightaway, smashing three fours and three sixes, before mistiming a length delivery from Corbin Bosch to get out for 35, with Markram taking a well-judged catch. Following his dismissal, South African bowlers slowed down the play with tight bowling and Marco Jansen dismissed Gill for 28. India captain Suryakumar Yadav struck two boundaries before getting out for 12, but Shivam Dube hammered Baart- man in the next over for a six and a four off consecutive deliveries to overhaul the target and complete a comprehensive win for his side. The two teams will play the fourth T20 onWednesday in Lucknow. -Reuters PHOTO:HTTPS://X.COM/BCCI/HEADER_PHOTO www.desitalk.com – that’s all you need to know 18 SPORTS December 19, 2025 C olourful confetti showered down on Lionel Messi as he ended his whirlwind four-city tour of India with a cameo at New Delhi’s Arun Jaitley Stadium on Monday, (December 15) where a near-capaci- ty crowd shouted themselves hoarse during his half-hour appearance. The world’s most populous nation had temporarily put aside its cricket obsession and slipped into a ‘Messi- mania’ since the Argentine eight-times Ballon d’Or win- ner arrived late on Friday with thousands of fans waiting outside the airport in Kolkata. Saturday’s event in Kolkata, however, descended into chaos with irate fans ripping up seats and invading the pitch after local politicians had hijacked the event. The chief organiser was detained by police. Events in Hyderabad and Mumbai featuring Messi, 38, and his Inter Miami teammates Luis Suarez and Rodrigo de Paul went ahead without issues and it was no different in Delhi. The trio walked round the field occasionally kicking a ball into the packed stands, and engaged in kickabouts with local children at a stadium that regularly hosts inter- national cricket matches. “It was a dream-come-true moment for us to watch him in flesh and blood,” said Messi and Argentina fan Kaustav Ghosh, who attended the event along with his wife and two sons. “We travelled to Russia for the 2018World Cup but could not get tickets for any of the Argentina matches there. At least we saw Messi here,” said Ghosh, whose entire family turned up in Argentina jerseys. Cricket, however, did manage to sneak into the pro- ceedings. Messi, Suarez and De Paul received Indian cricket team jerseys from International Cricket Council chairman Jay Shah, along with tickets for next year’s Twenty20World Cup in India and Sri Lanka. The hype around Messi’s visit is a contrast to the gen- eral sense of gloom around the state of Indian football. The country ranks a lowly 142nd in FIFA’s world rank- ings, and the Indian Super League is in limbo as the All India Football Federation failed to find a new commer- cial partner after its 10-year deal with the previous one expired. -Reuters Soccer-Chaos In Kolkata, Confetti In Delhi: Messi Wraps Up Eventful India Tour PHOTOS:REUTERS/ADNAN ABIDI Lionel Messi Tour of India – Arun Jaitley Stadium, New Delhi, India – December 15, 2025 Argentina and Inter Miami’s Lionel Messi with his Inter Miami teammate Luis Suarez meet young fans at the stadium during his tour of India. Lionel Messi Tour of India – Arun Jaitley Stadium, New Delhi, India – December 15, 2025 Argentina and Inter Miami’s Lionel Messi at the stadium during his tour of India. Lionel Messi Tour of India – Arun Jaitley Stadium, New Delhi, India – December 15, 2025 Argentina and Inter Miami’s Lionel Messi with his Inter Miami teammates Rodrigo De Paul and Luis Suarez pose with former India footballer Bhaichung Bhutia at the stadium during his tour of India. By Amlan Chakraborty