In the latest episode of Sports Dugout on DD Sports, host Anshika delivered an action-packed roundup of the biggest stories in sports. From Lionel Messi’s historic visit to India that captivated the nation to India’s commanding performance in the T20 series against South Africa, here’s everything you need to know from the world of sports on December 15, 2025.
Lionel Messi’s Historic India Tour: A Dream Come True for Indian Fans
Lionel Messi’s three-day tour across four Indian cities—Kolkata, Hyderabad, Mumbai, and Delhi—has been nothing short of legendary. The journey began with chaotic excitement at Kolkata’s Salt Lake Stadium, where enthusiastic crowds swarmed to catch a glimpse of the football icon.
The tour picked up pace in Hyderabad at the Rajiv Gandhi International Cricket Stadium, where Telangana Chief Minister Revanth Reddy and Congress leader Rahul Gandhi met Messi, giving fans unprecedented close access.
In Mumbai’s Wankhede Stadium, cricket legend Sachin Tendulkar, actors Ajay Devgn and Tiger Shroff, along with Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, welcomed the star. A highlight was the announcement of Project Mahadev, which will provide five-year residential scholarships to 60 talented young footballers from Maharashtra.
The tour concluded in Delhi at Arun Jaitley Stadium, where a planned meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi was canceled. However, Messi interacted with cricket star Virat Kohli, Home Minister Amit Shah, Chief of Defence Staff General Anil Chauhan, Chief Justice of India Justice Surya Kant, and athletes like Rohit Sharma, Sumit Antil, Nikhat Zareen, and Nishad Kumar. The visit included a coaching clinic with young players from Minerva Academy, inspiring the next generation of Indian football.
Cricket: India Crushes South Africa by 7 Wickets to Take 2-1 Series Lead
In the third T20I at Dharamsala, India showcased dominance to defeat South Africa by seven wickets, taking a 2-1 lead in the series. India won the toss and elected to bowl, restricting the Proteas to just 117—their lowest T20 total at the venue.
Standout bowling performances included Arshdeep Singh dismissing Reeza Hendricks early, debutant Harshit Rana (replacing Jasprit Bumrah) getting Quinton de Kock, and Hardik Pandya claiming his 100th T20I wicket against Tristan Stubbs. Aiden Markram top-scored with 61, but spinners Shivam Dubey and Varun Chakravarthy kept things tight.
In the chase, Abhishek Sharma provided an aggressive start, Shubman Gill anchored the innings, and Tilak Varma finished unbeaten as India wrapped up the win in 15.5 overs.
Other Sporting Highlights
- Handball Nationals Kick Off: The 54th Men’s Senior National Championship began in Hooghly, West Bengal, with 30 teams competing until December 20. Day one featured exciting matches, celebrating the region’s rich sporting culture—tune into DD Sports for live coverage.
- Badminton Triumphs at Odisha Masters Super 100: In Cuttack, 18-year-old top seed Unnati Hooda dominated the women’s singles final, defeating Israni Barua 21-7, 21-10. Kiran George won the men’s title in a thrilling three-setter against Indonesia’s Mohammad Yusuf.
- Fit India Sunday in Goa: A vibrant cycling event from Miramar to Dona Paula along the Arabian Sea promoted fitness for all ages. Activities included yoga, Zumba, and rope jumping, with sports icons like Brahmanand Sankhwalkar and Bruno Coutinho joining the fun.
Quick Hits and Milestones
- BCCI’s viral video featured bowling coach Morne Morkel breaking down Team India’s strategies with Arshdeep Singh and Harshit Rana.
- On this day in 1930: Don Bradman claimed one of his rare Test wickets.
- Hardik Pandya became the third Indian (after Bumrah and Arshdeep) with 100 T20I wickets and the first with 100 wickets + 1000 runs.
- India U19 defeated Pakistan by 90 runs in the Asia Cup.
Birthday Celebrations
Today marks the birthdays of several Indian sports legends:
- Bhaichung Bhutia (1976): The “Sikkimese Sniper,” India’s football trailblazer who became the first Indian to play in Europe.
Bhaichung Bhutia Turns 48: Sikkimese Sniper’s Legacy, And 10 Key …
- Geeta Phogat (1988): Pioneering wrestler and Commonwealth Games gold medalist.
- Jeev Milkha Singh (1971): Golfing pioneer who broke into the world top 100.
- And more stalwarts like Bharat Chhetri and Rahul Banerjee.
Stay tuned to DD Sports for more live action and reliable updates—your one-stop destination for all things sports!
