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.

India spin-bowling coach Sairaj Bahutule has weighed in on the controversy involving young batter Vaibhav Sooryavanshi following India A’s dramatic Super Over defeat to Sri Lanka A in the ongoing Tri-Nation Series.

The incident occurred after the match in Dambulla, where tempers flared between Sooryavanshi and Sri Lanka A cricketer Vishen Halambage. Reports indicated that comments were directed at the Indian batters as they headed back towards the dressing room after the game, leading to a heated exchange.

Video footage from the aftermath showed Sooryavanshi confronting Halambage before the two players briefly came into physical contact. Other Sri Lanka A players intervened and prevented the situation from escalating further.

Speaking about the matter, Bahutule described the episode as unfortunate and stressed that such situations can be avoided with greater discipline on the field. He expressed confidence that coaching staff from both teams would ensure similar incidents do not recur.

The coach also suggested that players on both sides should be educated about appropriate conduct during high-pressure matches, highlighting the importance of maintaining respect and sportsmanship even in intense competitive situations.

The altercation has sparked debate among cricket followers, with differing opinions emerging over the actions of the players involved. The incident came at the end of a tense contest that saw Sri Lanka A defeat India A in a Super Over after a closely fought encounter.

The young Sooryavanshi, regarded as one of India’s most promising batting talents, has attracted significant attention in recent months. However, the focus after the Dambulla match shifted from cricketing performances to player behaviour, prompting reactions from officials and coaches.

With the tournament continuing, attention is expected to return to on-field performances as both teams look ahead to their remaining fixtures.