🏏 Sports News Roundup: Suryavanshi Blazes, India Takes T20 Lead, and Messi Departs
Global Sports Today: Cricket Domination and a Football Superstar's Farewell to India
A look at the top headlines from the world of sports, featuring explosive cricket performances and the conclusion of a highly anticipated football tour.
1. Cricket: India U-19s Decimate Malaysia with Record Score
The Indian Under-19 cricket team continued its dominant run in the ACC U-19 Asia Cup 2025, posting a massive total against Malaysia at The Sevens Stadium in Dubai today.
- Explosive Start: Young sensation Vaibhav Suryavanshi once again stole the show, smashing a blazing 25-ball fifty—an innings studded with five boundaries and three sixes. This follows his sensational 171 against the UAE in the opening fixture.
- India's Total: India finished their innings with an imposing score of 408 for 7 after Malaysia won the toss and elected to bowl.
- Dominant Campaign: The team, led by Ayush Mhatre, looks set to maintain their perfect winning streak, having previously crushed arch-rivals Pakistan by 90 runs. India has already qualified for the semi-finals, which will be played later this week.
2. Cricket: India Clinches 2-1 T20I Lead Against South Africa
The senior Indian team secured a convincing seven-wicket victory over South Africa in the third T20 International (T20I) in Dharamsala, taking a crucial **2-1 lead** in the five-match series.
- Pacer Power: The victory was set up by a clinical bowling performance, with Arshdeep Singh (2/13) leading the attack to restrict South Africa to a meagre 117 all out. Captain Aiden Markram was the lone fighter for the visitors, scoring 61 off 46 balls.
- Batting Chase: The hosts comfortably chased the target in 15.5 overs, propelled by a brisk opening stand between Abhishek Sharma (35 off 18) and Shubman Gill (28).
- Hardik Pandya Milestone: The match also saw all-rounder Hardik Pandya become the **first Indian player** to record over 1,000 runs and 100 wickets in T20 internationals, achieving the milestone with the dismissal of Tristan Stubbs.
3. Football: Lionel Messi's 'GOAT India Tour' Concludes
Argentine football legend Lionel Messi officially wrapped up his highly publicized "GOAT India Tour 2025," departing from the country after a whirlwind four-city itinerary.
- Farewell Stop: Messi's final engagement took place in New Delhi, followed by a visit to the Vantara wildlife rescue and conservation centre in Jamnagar, before his departure today.
- Tour Highlights: The tour, which also included appearances by former Barcelona teammates Luis Suarez and Rodrigo De Paul, featured fan meet-and-greets and celebrity exhibition matches in Kolkata, Hyderabad, Mumbai, and Delhi.
- Mixed Reception: While the Mumbai and Delhi legs concluded smoothly, the tour began with organizational chaos in Kolkata, which unfortunately limited fan viewing of the football icon.
4. NCAA Basketball: TCU Horned Frogs Pull Off Comeback Victory
In men's college basketball, the **TCU Horned Frogs** (7-3) secured a narrow 69-65 comeback win against the Incarnate Word Cardinals (5-6) in Fort Worth.
- Comeback Trailing: TCU trailed for most of the game, falling behind by as many as 14 points in the first half.
- Punch Power: The victory was powered by a huge second-half performance from sophomore forward **David Punch**, who scored 15 of his team-high 17 points after the break, along with a career-high 13 rebounds.
- Clutch Finish: Brock Harding tipped in his own miss with 38 seconds left and then sealed the game with free throws, completing the Horned Frogs' resilient win.
Source: Multiple Search Engine Results and Reports from *India Today*, *Times of India*, *Hindustan Times*, *Fox Sports*, and *TCU Athletics* dated December 16, 2025.
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