Fifteen-year-old Vaibhav Sooryavanshi produced one of the most explosive innings in IPL history as Rajasthan Royals stormed into Qualifier 2 with a commanding 47-run victory over Sunrisers Hyderabad in the Eliminator at Mullanpur.

The teenage sensation smashed a breathtaking 97 off just 29 balls, powering Rajasthan to a massive total of 243 before the Royals bowled out Hyderabad well short of the target.

Fittingly, it was Sooryavanshi who sealed the win, taking the final catch as Rajasthan booked a Qualifier 2 clash with Gujarat Titans for a place in the IPL final.

Sunrisers captain Pat Cummins’ decision to bowl first quickly backfired as Rajasthan launched a relentless assault from the opening overs. Sooryavanshi turned the match into a personal showcase, hammering five fours and 12 sixes at a staggering strike rate above 330.

Eight of his sixes came during the powerplay — the most by any batter in that phase of an IPL innings. His half-century came in only 16 balls, equalling the record for the fastest fifty in IPL playoff history previously set by Suresh Raina.

The innings also saw Sooryavanshi surpass Chris Gayle’s long-standing record for the most sixes in a single T20 tournament. The youngster’s season tally climbed to 65 sixes, overtaking Gayle’s previous mark of 59 set during the 2012 IPL season.

Hyderabad’s bowlers struggled throughout as yorkers, slower balls and changes in length all disappeared into the stands. Sooryavanshi eventually fell just three runs short of a sensational century after mistiming an attempt over deep third man, but by then Rajasthan had already seized complete control.

Dhruv Jurel maintained the momentum with a blistering half-century off just 21 deliveries as Rajasthan finished with a daunting 243 despite Hyderabad tightening up slightly at the death.

Chasing a huge total in a knockout match, Sunrisers were forced into an aggressive approach from the start. Jofra Archer struck early, removing Hyderabad’s top three, including Abhishek Sharma for a duck in the opening over.

Nitish Kumar Reddy and impact substitute Salil Arora briefly revived the chase with a rapid fifty-run partnership, while Heinrich Klaasen entertained with several attacking strokes, including a remarkable inside-out six over extra cover.

However, Rajasthan regained control through Ravindra Jadeja, who dismissed Reddy for a quickfire 38 before removing Arora soon after. From there, Hyderabad’s innings collapsed rapidly as wickets fell in clusters.

For Sunrisers Hyderabad, a season built on explosive batting ended in disappointment despite crossing the 200-run mark nine times during the campaign.

Rajasthan Royals, meanwhile, head into Qualifier 2 full of confidence, with Sooryavanshi emerging as one of the standout stars of the tournament and a major threat heading into the final stages of the competition.

The Qualifier 2 match will feature Rajasthan Royals going head-to-head against the Gujarat Titans. The winner of this knockout match will advance to play defending champions Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) in the grand final.

IPL fans in Afghanistan can tune in on Friday to Ariana Television for a live broadcast of the event.

The footprint for the FIFA World Cup 2026 is expanding far beyond the 16 official host cities, with FIFA confirming the Team Base Camp Training Sites that will serve as home bases for all 48 participating nations during the tournament.

The announcement marks another major milestone ahead of the biggest FIFA World Cup in history, with teams now finalising where they will live and train throughout the group stage of the expanded tournament across Canada, Mexico and the United States.

Each team’s chosen Team Base Camp (TBC) Training Site will act as a “home away from home”, providing world-class facilities for players, coaches and staff to prepare, recover and travel from during the competition.

The selections are also expected to spread the economic and cultural impact of the tournament far beyond the match venues. 

FIFA said 25 communities that are not hosting games will still welcome national teams, bringing fans, media attention and tourism to cities and towns across North America.

According to FIFA, 39 teams will base themselves in the United States, seven in Mexico and two in Canada.

Among the countries confirmed to be training in Mexico are Colombia, Iran, South Korea, Mexico, South Africa, Tunisia and Uruguay.

Canada and Panama will both be based in Canada.

“Team Base Camps are an integral part of the fabric of any FIFA World Cup,” said Heimo Schirgi, the Chief Operating Officer for FIFA World Cup 2026. 

“They are where teams put down roots, train and recuperate, and experience the day-to-day rhythms of the tournament.”

He added that the expanded 48-team tournament creates an opportunity to involve more communities and fans than ever before.

The selection process began in 2024, when FIFA provided qualified and prospective teams with a list of more than 60 potential training base options across North America. 

The final choices were refined after the tournament draw in December 2025, with teams considering travel logistics and the locations of their group-stage matches.

The non-host communities selected to welcome teams include Cancun, Tijuana and Pachuca in Mexico, as well as several cities across the United States including Austin, Charlotte, Nashville, Portland, San Diego and Tampa.

In Canada, New Tecumseth is among the communities set to host a national team during the tournament.

The FIFA World Cup 2026 will be jointly hosted by Canada, Mexico and United States, and will be the first edition of the tournament to feature 48 teams.

Lionel Messi has sparked injury concerns just three weeks before the 2026 FIFA World Cup after appearing to suffer a leg problem during Inter Miami’s dramatic 6-4 victory over Philadelphia Union in Major League Soccer on Sunday.

The 38-year-old Argentine forward, who is expected to lead Argentina’s title defence in North America, requested to be substituted in the 73rd minute after clutching the back of his left leg. He walked off the pitch unaided and was later seen heading down the tunnel in no obvious distress.

The match marked Messi’s final MLS appearance for Inter Miami before linking up with the national team ahead of the tournament, which begins on 16 June when Argentina face Algeria in their opening Group J fixture.

Despite the scare, Inter Miami head coach Guillermo Hoyos suggested the decision to withdraw the eight-time Ballon d’Or winner was precautionary, pointing to the heavy pitch conditions on a rainy night in Florida.

“As far as I know, we don’t have a medical report yet, but he was fatigued,” Hoyos said after the match. “The pitch was heavy, and when in doubt, the standard approach is to avoid taking risks.”

Messi’s brief injury scare will raise nerves in Argentina’s camp, particularly given his previous Achilles inflammation ahead of the 2022 World Cup in Qatar. On that occasion, he went on to play every minute of the tournament, ultimately leading Argentina to their third world title.

This year’s tournament could mark a historic sixth World Cup appearance for Messi, with Argentina set to announce their squad later this week. Once again, attention will be firmly fixed on the veteran captain as he prepares for what could be his final appearance on football’s biggest stage.