What is a 7-Side Cricket Match? Lionel Messi will play with Kohli and Dhoni

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Lionel Messi may play a 7-Side cricket match with Virat Kohli and MS Dhoni: Cricket and football are the two most loved sports in India. Imagine what would happen if these two came together? Something similar is going to happen as one of the greatest football players, Lionel Messi, is coming to India in December and on this tour he is going to play a special 7-a-side cricket match with cricket legends.

This news is nothing less than a dream come true for Indian sports lovers. According to reports, Messi will take part in an exhibition match at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai. What will make this match even more special is that he will be joined by Indian cricket legends like Virat Kohli and M.S. Dhoni. In some media reports, Sachin Tendulkar and Rohit Sharma are also expected to participate in this unique match.

What is a 7-a-side cricket match?

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This is not a typical cricket match. 7-a-side cricket, as the name suggests, is a shorter and faster format of cricket in which each team has only 7 players instead of 11. It is often played in recreational and informal tournaments. Some key features of this format make it different from traditional cricket

7-A-side cricket match rules

• Fewer players: Each team has 7 players, giving every player a chance to play.
• Fewer overs: The number of overs in a match is reduced, often 5 to 7 overs per innings.
• Batting rules: In some formats, a batsman may have to retire after scoring a certain number of runs (such as 25 or 30 runs) to give all batsmen a chance.
• Simpler rules: Some rules are simpler, such as the LBW (leg before wicket) rule does not apply in some formats.

This shorter and faster format is perfect for players like Messi, who are not very familiar with the rules of cricket. The match will be an exhibition only, aimed at entertaining the fans by bringing together the legends of the game on one field.

Also Read: Jasprit Bumrah released from India Test squad midway through the fifth Test

Messi's India visit: Schedule and expectations

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Messi's India visit is expected to take place between December 13 and 15. During this time, he will visit three cities - Kolkata, Delhi, and Mumbai. In his honour, a 7-a-side tournament called "GOAT CUP" will also be organised at Kolkata's Eden Gardens, where he will also be felicitated.

This will be Messi's second visit to India. Earlier, he had come to Kolkata in 2011 to play a friendly football match for Argentina.

This visit of Messi will be a significant moment in Indian sports history. It will not only bridge the gap between cricket and football, but will also give millions of fans a chance to see their favourite players together. It will be interesting to see how the magician of football, Messi, displays his talent on the cricket field. Will he also be able to hit fours and sixes like Kohli and Dhoni? Only time will tell.

Also Read: IND vs ENG: Why is Arshdeep Singh not playing in 5th Test match against England?

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