Lionel Messi and Argentina will open their title defense against Algeria, with further group-stage fixtures against Austria and tournament debutants Jordan in Group J. Spain, among the leading contenders and current European champions, will begin their campaign against first-time qualifiers Cape Verde before facing Uruguay and Saudi Arabia in Group H.

IndiGo faces widespread passenger anger and flight disruptions due to new pilot rest regulations. Thousands were stranded, including cricketer Madan Lal, as over 1,000 flights were cancelled. The airline admitted to planning gaps and expects full normalisation between December 10 and 15.

Indian cricketer Smriti Mandhana broke her social media silence with a toothpaste ad post, sparking speculation due to her missing engagement ring. Her wedding to Palash Muchhal was indefinitely postponed due to family medical emergencies, with recent nazar emojis in bios addressing further rumours. Mandhana is set to return to cricket soon.

Irfan Pathan explains Rinku Singh’s T20I squad exclusion, citing Hardik Pandya’s return as the primary reason. Pathan believes this squad is largely set for the 2026 T20 World Cup, emphasizing Hardik Pandya’s pivotal role in India’s global campaign and the need for clarity in pace and spin combinations.