Following a nerve-wracking IPL 2025 encounter between Delhi Capitals (DC) and Lucknow Super Giants (LSG), a post-match chat between LSG owner Sanjiv Goenka and newly appointed captain Rishabh Pant sparked renewed attention, especially as it aired live on television. While the conversation appeared cordial, it reminded fans of a past controversial interaction between Goenka and former captain KL Rahul, which ultimately preceded Rahul’s release from the franchise.

In the high-profile mega auction, LSG secured Rishabh Pant for a record Rs 27 crore and handed him the captaincy. However, his debut as LSG skipper did not go as planned. Pant failed to score in his six-ball stay at the crease and made questionable decisions while defending in the final overs against DC. Notably, he gave the penultimate over to debutant Prince Yadav, who conceded 16 runs, instead of using seasoned bowler Shardul Thakur. The final over, bowled by Shahbaz Ahmed, was sealed with a six by Ashutosh Sharma, sealing a memorable win for Delhi.

Gavaskar reacts to Pant-Goenka exchange

Legendary cricketer Sunil Gavaskar, who was commentating during the match, weighed in on Goenka’s televised interaction with Pant and offered his perspective on Pant’s performance and captaincy.

“I think he knows,” Gavaskar said, referring to Pant’s self-awareness of his errors. “He actually mentioned in the post-match interview that you often learn more from your mistakes than from your successes… This is just the first match, and there are 13 more to go. Rishabh Pant is an intelligent cricketer, and he will have picked up valuable insights regarding his batting and captaincy.”

Gavaskar added that scoring runs helps boost a captain’s confidence when making tactical decisions. “Once he gets some runs under his belt, I expect his captaincy to become even more assured,” he said.

Praise for Ashutosh Sharma’s match-winning knock

Gavaskar was also effusive in his praise for Ashutosh Sharma, whose unbeaten 66 off 31 balls was key to DC’s last-over win. He called the finish “fabulous” and said it exemplified what makes the IPL so thrilling.

“These last-over thrillers, these breath-taking finishes—that’s what I call BOLD: Breath-taking, Outstanding, Lightning, and Devastating,” Gavaskar said, praising both Ashutosh and the drama of IPL cricket.

Indian football fans can eagerly anticipate the return of Lionel Messi and the Argentine national team in an exhibition match scheduled for October 2025 in Kerala. This event marks a significant moment, as it comes 14 years after Messi first visited the country.

Last November, the Kerala Sports Minister V Abdurahiman announced that Argentina would be visiting the southern state to play two friendly matches in Kochi. This announcement has generated excitement among local fans who hope to see one of the world’s greatest footballers on their home turf.

On Wednesday, HSBC India officially announced its partnership with the Argentine team to promote football in the country and confirmed the timing for the exhibition match. A press release from HSBC India stated, “Under this partnership, the Argentina national football team, including legendary player Lionel Messi, will visit India for an international exhibition match in October 2025.”

Furthermore, the partnership between the Argentine Football Association (AFA) and HSBC includes a one-year agreement focused on India and Singapore, targeting the competitive season of 2025 as preparation for the final qualification matches for the 2026 World Cup. This collaboration aims to enhance the visibility and growth of football in the region and provide fans with exciting experiences.

Lionel Messi’s first visit to India was in September 2011, when he played in a World Cup qualifying match against Venezuela in Kolkata. Argentina secured a 1-0 victory at Salt Lake Stadium during that match, which remains a memorable moment for Indian football enthusiasts.

Sandeep Batra, Head of International Wealth and Premier Banking at HSBC India, commented on the partnership: “As we join forces with one of the most revered teams in the world of football, we look forward to creating unforgettable experiences for fans and customers alike, while supporting the Argentine team in their journey towards the 2026 World Cup.”

Claudio Fabian Tapia, President of the Argentine Football Association, also expressed optimism about the collaboration, highlighting its potential for expansion and new opportunities in India and Singapore. He stated, “We welcome HSBC as the new partner of the Argentina National Team.”

Karni Sena activists descended on the residence of Samajwadi Party (SP) MP Ramji Lal Suman in Agra on Wednesday, unleashing chaos to protest his controversial remarks about Rajput warrior Rana Sanga. The demonstration erupted into violence as the mob pelted stones, shattered windows, and wrecked vehicles outside the MP’s home. Police moved in swiftly, deploying minimal force to quell the unrest, but not before skirmishes broke out between officers and the furious protesters.

The uproar stems from a March 21 Rajya Sabha speech where Suman branded Rana Sanga, the revered Mewar ruler, a “traitor” for allegedly inviting Mughal emperor Babur to defeat Ibrahim Lodi. “If Muslims are Babur’s descendants, then Hindus descend from the traitor Rana Sanga,” he declared, rejecting the ‘Babur ki aulad’ jibe aimed at Indian Muslims, whom he said revere Prophet Mohammed and Sufi traditions instead. The statement has enraged the Karni Sena, a right-wing group fiercely protective of Rajput heritage.

“This was a small taste,” said Karni Sena leader Mahipal Makrana. “We smashed a few chairs outside Suman’s house—nothing major yet. But this is just the beginning. We’ve been patient, but insulting our icons like Rana Sanga crosses the line. If our members face any backlash, we’ll paralyze the country with protests.” The group’s anger wasn’t limited to Agra.

On Sunday, they rallied outside the SP’s Bhopal office in Tulsi Nagar, torching an effigy of Suman. The outfit’s Madhya Pradesh wing even dangled a Rs 5 lakh reward for anyone who’d smear Suman’s face with ink and slap him with footwear.

SP leaders cried foul, alleging the Bhopal protesters trashed their banners and posters. “It happened at 7:15 pm, orchestrated by the BJP to expose the state’s collapse,” claimed SP spokesperson Yash Bharatiya, pointing to a video of a banner being yanked down.

However, TT Nagar police chief Sudhir Arjaria dismissed the damage claims, noting the brief demonstration warranted no arrests. With police on-site before the Bhopal crowd arrived, Bharatiya accused authorities of complicity, demanding Assembly debate. The Karni Sena’s wrath shows no sign of fading.