#SportsBulletin: SKY faces scrutiny over poor form

Sports Bulletin For December 15: A day packed with major developments across the sporting world saw headlines ranging from sharp criticism of India's T20I

captain Suryakumar Yadav and fresh intrigue around Lionel Messi's GOAT India Tour, to crucial updates from the Ashes and IPL.

Off-field controversies, security concerns and individual milestones also grabbed attention, making it a busy news cycle spanning cricket and football across continents.

1) Suryakumar Yadav Accused Of 'Hiding In The Dugout' To Escape Poor T20I Form

Former India batter Mohammed Kaif has urged T20I captain Suryakumar Yadav to take greater responsibility and not "stay hidden in the dugout" as he looks to rediscover his form in the format. Kaif's comments followed Suryakumar's subdued knock of 12 off 11 balls while batting at No. 4 in the third T20I against South Africa in Dharamshala. The innings took his 2025 tally to 213 runs at a strike rate of 125.29 and an average of just 14.20, the lowest among full-member nation captains with over 200 T20I runs in a calendar year.

2) Handshake With Lionel Messi On GOAT Tour To Cost Rs 1 Crore: Report

Lionel Messi reached New Delhi on Monday for the final stop of his GOAT India Tour after his chartered flight from Mumbai was delayed due to bad weather. Originally scheduled to land around 10:45 AM, the Argentine superstar arrived in the capital at approximately 2:30 PM IST. Reports suggest that a private meet-and-greet with the eight-time Ballon d'Or winner has attracted premium interest, with some corporate attendees paying close to ₹1 crore for access.

3) Mohsin Naqvi's Decision Makes Sure PSL Will CLASH With IPL 2026 Again

The Pakistan Super League 2026 will overlap with the Indian Premier League for the second consecutive year. PCB chairman Mohsin Naqvi confirmed on December 15 that PSL's 11th season will run from March 26 to May 3, a window that coincides with the IPL, which usually starts in late March and concludes at the end of May.

4) Cricketer In Australia Suspended After Allegations Of Sending Nudes To Young Players: Report

A New South Wales Blues cricketer has been reported for allegedly sending unsolicited explicit images to a young player, prompting authorities to cancel his registration. According to The Age, the decision followed an emergency board meeting on Friday. The unnamed player, who has represented NSW Blues and a T20 franchise, has been suspended indefinitely.

5) England Reveal Playing 11 For 3rd Ashes Test

England have named their playing XI for the third Test of the 2025-26 Ashes as they look to stage a historic comeback after trailing 2-0 in the five-match series. The team features Zak Crawley, Ben Duckett, Ollie Pope, Joe Root, Harry Brook, captain Ben Stokes, wicketkeeper Jamie Smith, Will Jacks, Brydon Carse, Jofra Archer and Josh Tongue.

6) England, Australia Set Ashes Rivalry Aside For Bondi, Adelaide Security Tightened

Cricket Australia and the England & Wales Cricket Board issued a joint statement on Monday expressing solidarity with the victims of the Bondi Beach terror attack. The incident occurred during a Jewish Hanukkah gathering in Sydney on Sunday evening, where gunmen opened fire on a large crowd, killing 15 people, including a 10-year-old child, and injuring several others. Authorities have labelled the incident a terrorist attack, drawing widespread condemnation.

7) Shafali Verma named ICC Women's Player of the Month

India opener Shafali Verma has been awarded the ICC Women's Player of the Month for November 2025 after her match-winning effort in the ODI World Cup final against South Africa. Coming in as a late replacement for the injured Pratika Rawal, Shafali rose to the occasion with a classy 87 off 78 balls, the highest score by an Indian opener in a World Cup final.

8) Abhimanyu Easwaran Added To IPL Auction 2026 List: Report

Abhimanyu Easwaran has been added to the IPL 2026 mini-auction list as a late inclusion after initially missing out on the shortlisted 350 players. The uncapped batter registered with a base price of ₹30 lakh and was re-entered into the auction pool after a franchise requested his inclusion, according to a Cricbuzz report.