Cricket

Ranchi, India: Star batsman Virat Kohli struck an attacking 135 to power India to 349-8 against South Africa in the first of three one-day internationals on Sunday. Kohli's 120-ball knock and his 136-run stand for the second wicket with fellow stalwart Rohit Sharma (57) steered India to a challenging total in Ranchi. The 37-year-old struck a boundary off Marco Jansen to raise his 52nd ODI century and lifted his bat to a raucous home crowd. An Indian fan breached security and raced to the pitch to touch Kohli's feet before he was dragged away. Kohli has the most ODI hundreds, with Indian great Sachin Tendulkar second with 49. He and 38-year-old Rohit returned to the ODI team after retiring from T20 and Test cricket. Their presence boosted India, led by KL Rahul in the absence of the injured Shubman Gill, after a 2-0 Test whitewash against South Africa. Rohit lost fellow opener Yashasvi Jaiswal early for 18 but Kohli walked in to a huge roar from a 38,000-strong capacity crowd. They pair steadied the innings and then took on the bowlers before Rohit was trapped lbw by Jansen. He hit five fours and three sixes in his 51-ball knock. India lost a couple more wickets but Kohli stood firm, even though South Africa put the brakes on the scoring in the middle overs. Kohli switched gears soon after reaching his first hundred since February and hit off-spinner Prenelan Subrayen for two fours and two sixes in a 21-run 39th over. He finally fell to Nandre Burger, caught by Ryan Rickelton, after hitting 11 fours and seven sixes. Rahul kept up the attack with 60 off 56 balls, while Ravindra Jadeja made 32 off 20. Aiden Markram is standing in as captain after Temba Bavuma was rested in the opener.

Football

Fort Lauderdale, United States: Inter Miami coach Javier Mascherano hailed Lionel Messi as "extraordinary" after the Argentine superstar steered the club into their first MLS Cup final with a 5-1 thrashing of New York City FC on Saturday. A Tadeo Allende hat-trick and goals from Mateo Silvetti and Telasco Segovia sent a revitalised Miami roaring into Major League Soccer's championship game next Saturday at their home field in Fort Lauderdale. While Messi did not get on the scoresheet, the 38-year-old provided a crucial, classy assist for Miami's third goal scored by Silvetti that effectively killed off the game as New York chased an equaliser. "Leo has accustomed us to the extraordinary," Mascherano said of his former Barcelona and Argentina team-mate. "He's someone extraordinary, someone we'll never see again. Today, perhaps we're surprised that he didn't score, but he gave us peace of mind with the third goal, an assist that only he can see. He practically sealed the game." Miami will host the Vancouver Whitecaps in next Saturday's MLS showpiece. Vancouver, spearheaded by former Germany and Bayern Munich star Thomas Muller, advanced to the final with a superb 3-1 victory over San Diego in California on Saturday to claim the Western Conference crown. Messi and his team-mates will head into the final bristling with confidence after another ruthless, high-scoring demolition job that followed on from their 4-0 drubbing of FC Cincinnati in the previous round. Allende -- who scored twice in the victory over Cincinnati -- was once again the focal point of the Miami attack. The 26-year-old Argentine forward opened the scoring in the 14th minute after cleverly springing the New York offside trap and then headed in a superb second to make it 2-0. New York rallied back with a headed Justin Haak goal in the 37th minute, and came within a whisker of an equaliser when Julian Fernandez forced a fine one-handed save from Miami goalkeeper Rocco Rios Novo in the 66th minute. That near miss was to prove crucial. Miami immediately swept upfield and a flowing move saw Rodrigo De Paul and Jordi Alba combine before Messi slipped a pass to Silvetti who rifled home to make it 3-1. 'Unbreakable' Segovia then eliminated any doubt with Miami's fourth in the 83rd minute before Allende completed his hat-trick a minute from time to spark wild celebrations. The victory leaves Miami just one win away from completing a remarkable transformation after a season that appeared to be unraveling in disarray earlier in the campaign following after a string of defeats. "We strengthened as a group and reached the end of the season with a brotherhood within the team, where everyone pulls together, and it doesn't matter who starts," Mascherano said. "We are a group, and the power of a group is unbreakable." Meanwhile Vancouver -- who thumped Miami 5-1 on aggregrate when they met in the CONCACAF Champions Cup semi-finals in April -- signalled that they will be ready to take on the star-studded Florida outfit with a masterful display to beat San Diego. The Canadian club got off to a dream start with Brian White firing them into the lead after only eight minutes. More relentless Vancouver pressure forced an own goal from San Diego goalkeeper Pablo Sisniega three minutes later and a second White goal on the stroke of half-time made it 3-0. San Diego raised hopes of an unlikely fightback when Mexico striker Hirving Lozano lashed in a long-range effort in the 60th minute. But Vancouver continued to look the likelier team to score and Sisniega was shown a red card for bringing down Ryan Gauld when the Whitecaps player rounded him to go in on goal.

Cricket

New Delhi: Big-hitting West Indies all-rounder Andre Russell on Sunday announced his retirement from the Indian Premier League, but will stay at Kolkata Knight Riders as a "power coach". Russell, a pace bowling all-rounder, was released as a player by Kolkata after a poor 2025 season and has decided not to enter the IPL auction on December 16. The 37-year-old will continue to play in other global T20 tournaments such as the Caribbean Premier League. Hanging up my IPL boots… but not the swagger ???????? What a ride it’s been in the IPL — 12 seasons of memories, and a whole lot of love from the @KKRiders family ???????? I’ll still be smashing sixes and taking wickets in every other league around the world ???????? And the best part?… pic.twitter.com/S5kU0YFRcR — Andre Russell (@Russell12A) November 30, 2025 "It's best to retire when fans ask: 'Why? You still have some more in you'," Russell said. "I'll be back. I'm here to say I will be a part of the KKR support staff as the new 'power coach' in2026." He moved to Kolkata in 2014 where he won two IPL titles. South African veteran Faf du Plessis said he had also opted out of next year's IPL, deciding instead to play in the Pakistan Super League. "India has a special place in my heart, and this certainly isn't goodbye -- you'll see me again," he said on social media