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Lisandro Martinez pens emotional note after Argentina’s FIFA World Cup final heartbreak
Buenos Aires [Argentina], July 22 (ANI): Argentina’s Lisandro Martinez shared an emotional message for fans after La Albiceleste fell short in the FIFA World Cup 2026 final, thanking supporters for standing by the team throughout their campaign and insisting that the result does not define their journey. sweetbonanza-app.com
Argentina’s bid to retain the World Cup title ended in heartbreak after a 1-0 extra-time defeat to Spain in the final.
In a post on X, Martinez said he was disappointed at not being able to bring the trophy home but expressed immense pride in representing Argentina and gratitude towards everyone who contributed to the team’s campaign.
“With a heavy heart for not having been able to bring home the cup that we all deserved, but with pride bursting at the seams for this jersey, for my teammates, the coaching staff, the executives, the medical team, the cooks, the kit men, and every single person who was involved to make all of this work in the best possible way. And, above all, for you, who showered us with all your love, all your strength, that passion that so defines us, and the unity of a nation that I hope endures over time," Martinez wrote.
Con el dolor en el alma por no haber podido traer la copa que todos merecíamos, pero con el orgullo a flor de piel por esta camiseta, por mis compañeros, el cuerpo técnico, los directivos, el cuerpo médico, los cocineros, los utileros y por cada persona que estuvo involucrada… pic.twitter.com/jNr5F0D7yu
— Lisandro Martinez (@LisandrMartinez) July 21, 2026
The Manchester United defender also congratulated Spain on lifting the title.
“I want to congratulate Spain on their well-deserved title," he added.
Reflecting on Argentina’s World Cup journey, Martinez said the team overcame several challenges without making excuses and urged fans not to judge the campaign solely by the final result.
“And to our people, I want to say that the result doesn’t define the journey we took. We faced adversities, we made the impossible possible, and we never looked for excuses, only reasons to keep going. We defended our colors far beyond the pitch and shared unforgettable moments with the National Team, alongside our families and with the unwavering support of all Argentinians. It will always be an immense pride to represent you," he wrote.
Martinez concluded his message by thanking supporters and expressing his love for Argentina.
“Thank you all so much. Let’s take care of our country. I love you, Argentina!" he said. (ANI)
(This content is sourced from a syndicated feed and is published as received. The Tribune assumes no responsibility or liability for its accuracy, completeness, or content.)
Why Glasgow 2026 Could Be a Defining Commonwealth Games for India
Boria Majumdar in Glasgow
The Commonwealth Games 2026 is different.
In normal circumstances, the Commonwealth Games ranks lower in the pecking order of multi-discipline events, with most athletes preferring to peak at the Asian Games instead, which are scheduled just a month later, in September 2026, in Japan. For someone like Neeraj Chopra, the World Championships, followed by the Diamond League and then the Asian Games, would have been the ideal route. With India hosting the Commonwealth Games in 2030, however, the 2026 edition has become far more important for Indian athletes.
For the wider Commonwealth, the Games are of even greater significance. The Commonwealth, in 2026, is an organisation searching for renewed relevance, and it arguably needs sport now more than ever.
When the Commonwealth Games began in 1930, they were conceived as an alternative to the Olympics. Organised to challenge the growing American sporting dominance at the Summer Olympics, the standard of competition at the Commonwealth Games was comparable with that of the Olympics until the 1960s. A Commonwealth gold medal was regarded as a major achievement, with winners immediately considered among the favourites for the following Olympic Games.
Politically, too, the Commonwealth Games mattered. In the context of the Non-Aligned Movement and the Bandung Conference, the Commonwealth was viewed as a significant force in the emerging global order of the decolonisation era during the 1940s and 1950s. This explains Jawaharlal Nehru’s determination to remain a member of the Commonwealth and use the Games to showcase India’s growing stature on the world stage.
Much has changed since then. The Asian Games has overtaken the Commonwealth Games in importance and, strictly speaking, medals won at the Commonwealth Games are no longer regarded as a reliable indicator of Olympic preparedness.
That is where Glasgow 2026 and Ahmedabad 2030 could prove different. Together, they could give a new lease of life to both the Commonwealth Games and the wider Commonwealth.
Every Indian athlete I have spoken to is looking forward to Glasgow.
“I’d like to win a gold medal for my country and, with fewer sports on the programme this time, every medal will be even more important,” said Mirabai Chanu.
In some disciplines, the standard of competition is comparable to that of the Olympics or World Championships. Long jump is a case in point, as Anju Bobby George has repeatedly pointed out.
With around 700 Indian athletes descending on Glasgow over the next few days, the 2026 Commonwealth Games promises to be a sporting spectacle of real significance.
Perhaps that is why Chanu said with a smile: “Please do bring a pizza to the stadium when you come for my event. I will give my best shot to win gold for India. That’s why you must get me the pizza. If you do, we’ll do an interview celebrating soon after I win, God willing.”
At RevSportz, we will be at most venues and, over the next two weeks, will bring you extensive on-the-ground coverage from Glasgow. The city is ready – and so are we.
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The post Why Glasgow 2026 Could Be a Defining Commonwealth Games for India appeared first on Sports News Portal | Revsportz.
Dhruv Jurel’s day out in Singapore
India wicketkeeper Dhruv Jurel decided to jet off to Singapore recently after captaining the India ‘A’ side to a 1-0 victory across two unofficial Test matches earlier this month against Sri Lanka ‘A.’
View this post on Instagram
Jurel shared a series of pictures from his visit to Sentosa island, famous for its theme park, to his 1.2mn Instagram followers. He captioned the post: “Living for these stay, play, and dine vibes at Sentosa.”
EXCLUSIVE | ‘Don’t Change Yourself’: How Gambhir’s Blueprint and a Late Father’s Dream Fueled Yash Thakur’s India Call-Up
The luggage carousel at Nagpur International Airport is an unlikely backdrop for a life-altering moment. Yet, for 27-year-old Vidarbha fast bowler Yash Thakur, that mundane wait for baggage upon returning from India A’s tour of Sri Lanka transformed into the pinnacle of his cricketing journey.
Thakur and his Vidarbha teammate Harsh Dubey – who also earned his India call up recently following his performances for Vidarbha and Sunrisers Hyderabad – had just landed when the news broke. Thakur’s phone buzzed, delivering the call he had chased for nearly a decade: a spot in the Indian senior squad for the upcoming T20I series against Zimbabwe.
“I actually just sat down there for a couple of seconds to process what had just happened so quickly,” Thakur recalls in an exclusive interview with Revsportz, the disbelief still fresh. “The dream that everyone has, that was my dream too, and seeing it come so close – it took a little time for it to sink in.”
When India take the field in Harare on July 23, Thakur will not be stepping out as a starry-eyed novice. He represents the very essence of the Indian domestic grind – a tireless workhorse who has bent his back on flat decks, conquered the Ranji Trophy, Duleep Trophy, Irani Cup, and Vijay Hazare Trophy, and emerged as a vital cog in the BCCI’s Targeted Fast-Bowlers List.
With nearly 100 List A wickets since his 2017 debut, 74 T20 appearances, and 22 IPL games under his belt, his selection shatters the contemporary myth that a national cap is solely born under the blinding lights of franchise cricket.
“I am continuously playing domestic cricket. And from that alone, I earned an India A call-up last year, and I was picked for India A this year as well,” Thakur explains. “Because I am consistently playing domestic cricket and we are winning trophies for Vidarbha, that also plays a massive role in the whole journey. When we perform in domestic cricket and win trophies as a team, it helps us grow as cricketers and boosts our chances for personal selection.”
Thakur’s athletic roots trace back not to the 22 yards, but to the combat mats. Influenced by his father, Ravisingh Thakur – a former state-level judoka who dabbled in karate and cricket – Yash initially channeled his raw energy into Wushu. He even clinched a state-level silver medal after three years in the sport.
However, martial arts is an unforgiving arena. Her mother’s concern steered him away from combat sports and toward the Praveen Hinganikar Cricket Academy, located close to their home.
It was a shift that his father wholeheartedly embraced and nurtured. Despite the financial constraints, typical of a mid-level business family, Ravisingh backed his son’s ambition unreservedly. After climbing the ranks – overcoming years where he warmed the bench for the U-16s and U-19s before finally meeting his inspiration, Umesh Yadav – Yash cemented his place in the Vidarbha setup.
“He never said no to me; he always listened to every single thing I said and agreed,” Thakur reminisces about his father. “He supported me properly all the way from Under-13 until now… He used to watch every single match of mine, taking me to practice and bringing me back when I was young – he did all of that.”
Tragically, the man who laid the foundation for this Zimbabwe-bound flight is not here to see it take off. Ravisingh Thakur suffered a fatal cardiac arrest in 2023, leaving a void that could never be filled.
For Yash, the grief has evolved into an unbreakable driving force. Every yorker nailed, every stump sent cartwheeling, is a silent tribute to the man who believed before anyone else did.
“Definitely, it is all for him and my family” Thakur says, his voice heavy with emotion. “Even now, whenever I step onto the ground to play matches, whether it’s a domestic match, IPL, or India A, my first thought is always that whatever I am doing right now, I am doing it for my father. Because yes, it was his dream to see me achieve the success he always wanted for me.”
When the news of the India selection broke, the Thakur household was swept by a tidal wave of bittersweet joy. “My family’s reaction was wonderful because it was my father’s dream,” he recalls. “Seeing it finally come true, my mother got a bit emotional. But everyone was thrilled… the news came as a sudden surprise for everyone.”
While the domestic circuit hardened him, the IPL refined him. Snapped up by the Lucknow Super Giants in the IPL 2023 auction, Thakur spent crucial seasons rubbing shoulders with the world’s elite, picking up 24 wickets in his first 19 games. It was here that he crossed paths with former Indian opener Gautam Gambhir and current Indian bowling coach Morne Morkel – two men who will now guide him in the national setup. Now, he plays for the Punjab Kings.
Gambhir’s advice to the young pacer was characteristically blunt and profoundly effective during their first meeting at the LSG camp.
“He made one thing very clear to me on the very first day,” Thakur says. “He said, ‘You have been selected for the IPL just because you know what you do well, you know what you did to get here, and you have won matches. You know perfectly well how to win them. So don’t change yourself; you just need to keep nurturing your skills according to the situation, but don’t change your core strength.’ It was superb advice from him.”
At 27, Thakur is in the prime of his fast-bowling life. He knows the scent of domestic titles, he understands the pressure of the IPL death overs, and he carries the undeniable weight of a father’s unfulfilled dream.
For the fans who haven’t witnessed his tireless spells in the Ranji Trophy, Thakur offers a simple, unwavering guarantee ahead of the three T20Is in Harare on July 23, 25, and 26: “They can expect that no matter what happens, whatever the situation is, keep your belief in Yash Thakur, he will win it for India,” he declares with quiet confidence. “That is the belief I have in myself, and I expect the same from everyone… I’ll make sure that India will win, and India will win this series.”
And beyond Zimbabwe? The Vidarbha pacer’s eyes are locked on the ultimate cricketing summit.
“My ultimate dream is to win the World Cup for India and help India win it. That is my ultimate dream.”
With his father’s spirit as his tailwind and a decade of grit beneath his spikes, betting against Yash Thakur seems like a foolish endeavour.
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The post EXCLUSIVE | ‘Don’t Change Yourself’: How Gambhir’s Blueprint and a Late Father’s Dream Fueled Yash Thakur’s India Call-Up appeared first on Sports News Portal | Revsportz.
“Mohammed Shami, Siraj Not Priority Of Selectors,” Zaheer Khan Speaks On Pace Duo’s ODIs Exclusion After Loss In England
In a great shock to the fans, India’s famous fast-bowling trio from the World Cup 2023 of Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Siraj, and Mohammed Shami haven’t played a single game for India together since the World Cup 2023 final against Australia in Ahmedabad.
This has been a function of multiple reasons: Shami was laid low for over a year after the 2023 World Cup final due to an ankle injury, while Bumrah and Siraj were rested and injured at various points in the last three years.
However, the calls from fans and experts to reunite the trio have taken a steady weight in recent days following the disappointing performance of India’s bowlers in the ODI series against England, which India lost 2-1.
In the 3rd ODI at Lord’s, India conceded 387 runs as experienced bowlers Prasidh Krishna and Arshdeep Singh and inexperienced seamers Prince Yadav and Gurnoor Brar all were smoked around.
This series loss was a huge dent to India’s confidence as they prepare for the 2027 World Cup, which will be held in October-November in South Africa, Namibia, and Zimbabwe.
This was India’s second ODI series loss this year. In January, New Zealand beat India 2-1 in a famous, historic, come-from-behind series victory, registering their maiden ODI series triumph in India.
Under Gambhir, India had also conceded a series defeat in Sri Lanka a couple of years ago. The pressure is mounting on the head coach, and questions about the exclusion of Mohammed Shami in particular have been raised regularly.
Former India pacer Zaheer Khan has given his opinion on Shami and Siraj’s omission from the ODI setup.
When was the last time Mohammed Shami played for India?
Shami’s last match for India was the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 final in February 2025 in Dubai. He was surprisingly not picked for any format by the BCCI selectors after the Champions Trophy despite impressive performances in domestic cricket and the IPL.
Meanwhile, Siraj was dropped from the white-ball teams in 2024/25 but made a comeback this year and participated in the T20 World Cup as Harshit Rana’s replacement.
He was picked in the initial squad for the T20Is in Ireland and England but was later ruled out due to injury. Siraj was expected to be picked for the ODI series against England as well but hadn’t recovered in time.
Door is not closed on Shami, Siraj: Zaheer Khan
Meanwhile, Zaheer believes that the Siraj-Shami duo is not a priority of the selectors, but he reckons the two senior fast bowlers could return to the scheme of things.
Zaheer said on Cricbuzz: “The thought process is different. I feel that when a new player is given a chance, sometimes the senior players are given a break. I don’t know how they have been communicated to Siraj and Shami. But as a player, you should always be ready and control the controllables.”
“They might not be their [selectors] priority. But it’s not like the door is closed for you. I don’t think it’s like that. And if it’s not like that, it means you are in the scheme of things. There is no doubt about that. Yes, you should continue doing the rest of the things that are in your hands.”
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