
Argentina can play the same way with or without Lionel Messi: Lionel Scaloni
"The team is now in a moment where it can play in the same way with Leo (Messi) or without Leo, which used to be more complex in the past as we had to change some players," Scaloni told reporters ahead of the match in Buenos Aires."But now we don't have this necessity and the team works in the same way, that's good."Argentina will be facing Colombia next, who are in sixth spot in the South American World Cup qualifier standings and aiming to distance themselves from the rest. Colombia beat Argentina 2-1 in the reverse fixture in September and Scaloni is wary of the threat posed by them. advertisementThe Argentina boss expects it to be a good contest, especially playing in front of the home crowd. "It's a great team, and with great players, and it has a clear style that can put you in trouble," Scaloni said."We've analysed it, we've shown the players their strengths and what we want to take advantage of. It's going to be a nice game, especially because we play at home, so it's good for our people to see the players."Trending Reel

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First Post
33 minutes ago
- First Post
Abhishek Sharma joins Virat Kohli & SKY in elite T20I club, beats SRH teammate Travis Head
Abhishek Sharma becomes the new No.1 in ICC T20I batting rankings. He has dethroned his Sunrisers Hyderabad teammate Travis Head from the top. Rishabh Pant and Ravindra Jadeja have gained in Test batting rankings with the latter reaching a career-best. read more Indian cricket fans have a new hero to cheer for as 24-year-old Abhishek Sharma has climbed to the top of the ICC T20I batter rankings, overtaking big names like Australia's Travis Head and Indian T20I captain Suryakumar Yadav. This is a huge moment for Abhishek, who made his international debut just last year. He first grabbed attention with a stunning T20I century against Zimbabwe in his debut series, but it was his recent performances against teams like South Africa and England that catapulted him to the top. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Travis Head, who had held the top spot for over a year after dethroning Suryakumar Yadav, lost his place because he didn't play in Australia's recent T20I series against the West Indies. Head is Sharma's teammate at Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) in the Indian Premier League (IPL). They are feared for their destructive partnership at the top when they play together at SRH. Also Read: Lee Fortis accused of 'double standards' as picture with Brendon McCullum goes viral: 'Very good reason why Poms are hated' Abhishek Sharma joins Virat Kohli & SKY in elite club With this, Abhishek becomes only the third Indian to ever top the T20I batting rankings after Virat Kohli and Suryakumar. Kohli ruled the rankings for three years from 2014 to 2017 and maintained his top spot for much of this period. Kohli retired from the format after winning the 2024 T20 World Cup. Tilkar Varma is also in the top 10 as he retained his No. 3 spot in the T20 batting rankings. Suryakumar Yadav is constant on No. 6 with England batters Phil Salt and Jos Buttler sandwiched between him and Varma. Yashasvi Jaiswal has dropped down two places to No. 11. Also Read: Oval Test: The Bumrah decision, the Kuldeep no-brainer and the Arshdeep call Rishabh Pant and Ravindra Jadeja gain in Test rankings Meanwhile, there are a few changes in the Test rankings as well in regards to Indian players. India's vice-captain in Tests, Rishabh Pant, has gained one place to go from eighth to seventh in the ICC Test batting rankings thanks to a gritty half-century in Manchester, where he batted with a fractured toe. Jaiswal also suffered a setback here as he dropped three places to No. 9 in the Test batting rankings after a mixed performance in the first four Tests in England, where he began with a century but failed to convert his starts and registered two ducks as well. Indian all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja gained five places to climb to a career-best 29th in the batting charts after his unbeaten century in the fourth Test that helped his team avoid a loss.

The Hindu
33 minutes ago
- The Hindu
Uzbek boxer Mullojonov, Paris Olympics champion, provisionally suspended for banned substance
Paris Olympic heavyweight boxing champion Lazizbek Mullojonov has been provisionally suspended after testing positive for a prohibited substance, the International Testing Agency said. The 26-year-old Uzbek tested positive for methasterone, a synthetic anabolic-androgenic steroid associated with the promotion of rapid muscle growth, increased strength and power, in an out-of-competition doping control collected on June 11. 'The athlete has been informed of the case and has the right to request the analysis of the B-sample,' ITA said in a statement on Tuesday. If the B-sample analysis is requested and confirms the result of the A-sample, the case will be considered as a confirmed anti-doping rule violation, it said. If the B-sample analysis is not requested, the case will also go ahead as a confirmed anti-doping rule violation, it said. 'The athlete will have the opportunity to present his explanations for the result,' it said. Reuters has contacted the Uzbekistan Boxing Federation for comment. Mullojonov also won bronze in the heavyweight event at the 2023 IBA World Boxing Championships, as well as a gold medal in super heavyweight at the 2022 Asian Amateur Boxing Championships. Related Topics Paris Olympics


Time of India
2 hours ago
- Time of India
'Wore lucky kurta, played Mary Kom songs and won': How Nagpur's 19-year-old Divya Deshmukh conquered chess world for India
Divya Deshmukh, at 19, has won the World Cup chess title. She is the first Indian woman to achieve this feat. She is returning to Nagpur for a grand welcome. Divya won $50,000. She will participate in the Grand Swiss tournament in Uzbekistan. She hopes her victory will promote chess in India. She enjoys music and follows football and tennis. Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads At just 19 years old, Divya Deshmukh has made history by becoming India's first woman World Cup chess champion, showing incredible determination and self-belief. After her win in Georgia, she is returning home to Nagpur, where a grand welcome is waiting for to The Times of India from Batumi Airport, the young chess sensation shared her feelings, the journey to this big win, and the little things, like music, clothes, and sleep, that helped her along the after clinching the title, Divya admits it's hard to believe.'It's yet to sink in,' she told TOI. 'It's still difficult to believe that yesterday was my last night as an International Master.'With her victory, Divya also won $50,000 in prize money, the biggest of her career so far. 'I don't have any plans right now,' she said humbly, focusing more on her future games than shopping she insists that nothing much has changed. 'As a person or a player, I remain the same,' she said. 'But yes, the pressure to become a Grandmaster is off. That's a relief.'When asked if Grandmasters get more respect, Divya smiled and said, 'I guess I will find out now.'With thousands of messages pouring in, she hasn't had the chance to read them all. 'Once I do, I'll let you know which was the best one,' she next focus? The Grand Swiss tournament in Uzbekistan this September. 'Chess is exhausting,' she said, adding that she plans to catch up on sleep, music, and loved her pink printed kurta and beige pants, and so did Divya. 'It became my lucky dress,' she revealed. 'I wore it for all my tiebreakers and won every single one.'Though chess takes most of her time, Divya follows football and tennis when she can. And during the tournament, it was the songs from Milkha Singh and Mary Kom movies that kept her inspired.'I just listened to their songs to stay pumped,' she said. 'They really motivated me.'While she's confident enough to travel alone, Divya admits she prefers having her parents around. 'They handle everything else so I can just focus on chess,' she unsure how many countries she's visited, 'I need to buy a map and start marking them!', but Greece tops her list. 'It's beautiful and the food is amazing,' she Divya keeps it personal and comfortable. 'I just wear what feels good,' she said. 'I wouldn't rate my fashion sense. I just like wearing nice clothes, who doesn't!'With her calm attitude and focused mind, Divya Deshmukh has already become a role model. She hopes her win encourages more people to follow chess in India.'Cricket is still number one,' she admits, 'but I hope my win adds something to the rise of chess in our country.'