Afghanistan all-rounder Azmatullah Omarzai added another milestone to his growing international career by becoming one of the fastest batters to reach 50 sixes in One Day Internationals (ODIs) during the third ODI against India national cricket team. Omarzai achieved the feat with two maximums in the match, entering an elite list of power-hitters in ODI cricket.

Omarzai and captain Hashmatullah Shahidi stitched together a 105-run partnership to rebuild the innings after Afghanistan faced early setbacks. Omarzai’s innings came to an end after he played a crucial role in Afghanistan’s recovery.

Omarzai among fastest batters to 50 ODI sixes

With this achievement, Omarzai reached the 50-sixes mark in just 36 ODI innings. According to the record list, only Corey Anderson and Liam Livingstone got there faster, taking 32 and 34 innings respectively. Omarzai is now the joint third-fastest batter to reach 50 ODI sixes, sharing the position with Muhammad Waseem after both achieved the milestone in 36 innings.

Fastest to 50 ODI sixes (by innings):

• Corey Anderson – 32 innings
• Liam Livingstone – 34 innings
• Azmatullah Omarzai – 36 innings
• Muhammad Waseem – 36 innings
• Shimron Hetmyer – 38 innings
• Harry Brook – 38 innings

Notably, no Indian batter features among the top five fastest players to reach 50 ODI sixes.

Equals Shahidi’s record against India

Omarzai’s half-century also helped him match captain Hashmatullah Shahidi’s record for the most ODI fifties by an Afghanistan batter against India. Both players now have two ODI half-centuries against the Indian team.

The latest achievement further highlights Omarzai’s importance to Afghanistan’s ODI setup, where he has established himself as one of the team’s most impactful all-rounders in recent years.

Fast bowler Prince Yadav achieved a major milestone in his cricket career after making his international debut for India in the second ODI against Afghanistan in Lucknow on Wednesday. The Delhi pacer was handed his maiden India cap as the hosts made changes to their playing XI for the match.

Yadav’s selection marked the latest chapter in a journey that has included both setbacks and redemption. He came into the side after India reshuffled their lineup, with Nitish Kumar Reddy unavailable due to injury.

Long road to international cricket

The 24-year-old fast bowler rose through the ranks after establishing himself in domestic cricket and the Indian Premier League. Playing for the Lucknow Super Giants, Yadav emerged as one of the team’s notable performers during the 2026 IPL season, picking up 16 wickets in 14 matches.

He also grabbed headlines earlier this year when he dismissed Virat Kohli during an IPL match, a moment that significantly boosted his profile among cricket fans.

BCCI suspension and comeback

Yadav’s path to the national team was far from straightforward. In 2019, the BCCI imposed a two-year suspension on the pacer after he was found guilty of age-fudging in Under-19 cricket. According to reports, a discrepancy was found between documents submitted to the cricket board and records maintained by the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE).

The suspension kept him out of domestic cricket for two seasons. During that period, Yadav reportedly focused on improving his fitness and preparing for a return to competitive cricket.

His performances after returning helped him rebuild his career, eventually earning opportunities in domestic cricket, the IPL and now the Indian national team.

The debut against Afghanistan represents a significant turnaround for the Delhi fast bowler, who has gone from serving a suspension to representing India on the international stage.

Defending champions Argentina kicked off their FIFA World Cup 2026 campaign in emphatic fashion, defeating Algeria 3-0 in their Group J opener with Lionel Messi producing a memorable hat-trick.

The Argentine captain once again proved decisive on the biggest stage, scoring all three goals as his side secured maximum points and sent an early warning to the rest of the tournament contenders.

Messi opened the scoring in the first half before adding two more goals after the break to complete his hat-trick. His performance ensured Argentina remained in control throughout the contest and rarely looked troubled by the Algerian side.

The victory was particularly significant as it came in Messi’s landmark 200th international appearance for Argentina. The veteran forward marked the occasion in style, delivering one of the standout individual displays of the tournament so far.

Argentina dominated possession and created the better opportunities throughout the match, while Algeria struggled to find a way past a disciplined Argentine defence. The reigning world champions combined defensive solidity with attacking quality to comfortably secure the result.

The win gives Argentina an ideal start in Group J, where they will next face Austria. Algeria, meanwhile, will look to bounce back when they take on Jordan in their second group-stage fixture.

With Messi showing he remains capable of influencing matches at the highest level, Argentina’s title defence has begun on a highly positive note.