Messi's India Tour Ends with a Bang: Jay Shah Invites Him to T20 World Cup Opener
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Lionel Messi's highly anticipated tour of India concluded on a high note in Delhi on December 15. The 2022 FIFA World Cup winner arrived at the Arun Jaitley Stadium around 4:20 PM IST, where he was greeted by fans and exchanged pleasantries with International Cricket Council (ICC) Chairman Jay Shah and Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta. This visit marked the final stop on Messi's Indian tour, which had previously taken him to Kolkata, Hyderabad, and Mumbai. During his visit to the Arun Jaitley Stadium, Jay Shah honored Messi with a Team India jersey and a signed bat. The ICC Chairman also presented Messi with an exclusive invitation to India's opening match at the ICC Men's T20 World Cup 2026, which will be co-hosted by India and Sri Lanka. The Suryakumar Yadav-led Indian team will kick off their World Cup campaign against the United States on February 7 at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai. As Messi received the invitation, the crowd erupted in applause, and the venue was filled with thunderous cheers. Following the ceremony, Messi posed for a picture with Jay Shah and Rekha Gupta. Additionally, Luis Suarez and Rodrigo de Paul were also presented with Team India jerseys, with Messi receiving the iconic No.10 jersey, Suarez getting No. 9, and de Paul handed No. 7. Messi expressed his gratitude to the Indian crowd in a brief speech, speaking in his native Spanish. He thanked the fans for their love and affection during his visit, stating that it was a 'truly beautiful experience.' Messi also assured the crowd that they would return to India, possibly to play a match or visit again on another occasion. Messi's tour of India began on December 10 in Kolkata, but his visit to the Salt Lake Stadium was marred by mismanagement, leading to unsavory scenes. However, the subsequent visits to Hyderabad, Mumbai, and Delhi ran smoothly, with the Argentine superstar receiving a warm welcome at each stop.
