Former Indian cricket captain and commentator Ravi Shastri met up with Real Madrid star Jude Bellingham at a match in The Hundred, sharing a glowing tribute to the English midfielder.
Bellingham was present for the toss of the match between Birmingham Phoenix and Welsh Fire on Sunday, August 2. The football star holds a 12 percent stake, valued at approximately £1 million, in the Phoenix franchise. Despite Bellingham's presence, the Phoenix suffered a seven-wicket defeat. After posting a score of 137-9, with Joe Clarke top-scoring with 35, they were defeated by the Fire, guided by an unbeaten 58 from Joe Root.
Following their meeting, Shastri shared two photos with Bellingham on social media, praising his recent performances at the 2026 FIFA World Cup in North America. Shastri wrote: "Great to have Birmingham's own galactico in the house for the toss at The Hundred. What a player! What a World Cup! Class written all over him. Good luck for the season ahead!" Bellingham made history during the tournament in the USA, Canada, and Mexico by becoming the first English player to score seven goals in a single World Cup edition, helping the Three Lions secure a third-place finish.
After the cricket match, Bellingham delighted the spectators by taking the bat and playing a few shots against spinner Usman Tariq. Reflecting on his investment in the Birmingham Phoenix, Bellingham expressed his deep connection to his hometown. "I love Birmingham. I'm very grateful for what the whole city of Birmingham has done for me. I love cricket as well, so when I got the opportunity to get involved I didn't really think twice about it, so I'm so happy to be on board," he said.
Bellingham has since returned to Real Madrid to undergo pre-season training under newly appointed manager Jose Mourinho, who returns to the club after his previous tenure from 2010 to 2013. The Spanish giants are aiming to secure their first league title in three seasons.
Real Madrid's pre-season campaign began on July 24 with a 1-0 victory against Alcorcon at the Estadio Alfredo Di Stefano, courtesy of a penalty from Daniel Yanez. Mourinho's squad followed that up with a 4-1 win over CD Leganes, featuring goals from Federico Valverde, Franco Mastantuano, and Gonzalo Garcia. On Saturday, August 1, they played out a 2-2 draw with ACF Fiorentina. Real Madrid will continue their preparations against Ferencvaros TC in Budapest on Saturday, August 8, followed by a fixture against Deportivo La Coruna four days later, before wrapping up their pre-season tour against FC Schalke 04 in Gelsenkirchen on August 16.
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