Lots of drama and action unfolded in the sports world in the month gone by. The month of March saw a lot of tennis, football as well as Paralympic action. Serena Williams made her comeback to the tennis courts, while Messi stuck his 100th Champions League goal against Chelsea. Also the big ball-tampering scandal shook Australian cricket to its core.
Rediff.com gives you a quick flashback of this and more, in pictures of the month gone by...
![China's Liu Yiming and the Czech Republic's Vladimir Darida in action during the China Cup on March 26](//im.rediff.com/sports/2018/apr/03best-china.jpg?w=670&h=900)
IMAGE: China's Liu Yiming and the Czech Republic's Vladimir Darida in action during the China Cup on March 26.. Photograph: Reuters
![CAUGHT! Cameron Bancroft, after being alerted, shoved the tape down the front of his trousers to keep it out of the gaze of the umpires after tampering with the ball during the third day's play in the 3rd Test against South Africa in Newlands in Cape Town on March 24](//im.rediff.com/cricket/2018/mar/25tampering.jpg?w=670&h=900)
IMAGE: Australia's Cameron Bancroft, after being alerted, shoved the tape down the front of his trousers to keep it out of the gaze of the umpires after tampering with the ball during the third day's play in the 3rd Test against South Africa in Newlands in Cape Town on March 24. Photograph: Ashley Vlotman/Gallo Images/Getty Images
IMAGE: Australia's Simon Patmore lies in the snow after winning the event as fellow competitor Ben Tudhope rushes to congratulate him during the men's snowboard cross SB-UL big final at Jeongseon Alpine Centre in Jeongseon, South Korea at the Pyeongchang 2018 Winter Paralympics on March 12. Photograph: Paul Hanna TPX IMAGES OF THE DAY/Reuters
![Former Australian Test Cricket captain, Steve Smith breaks down during a press conference at Sydney International Airport on March 29 following the ball-tampering saga](//im.rediff.com/cricket/2018/mar/29smith-weep.jpg?w=670&h=900)
IMAGE: Former Australian Test Cricket captain, Steve Smith breaks down during a press conference at Sydney International Airport on March 29 following the ball-tampering saga. Photograph: Brook Mitchell/Getty Images
![NBA star and filmmaker Kobe Bryant, winner of the Best Animated Short Film award for 'Dear Basketball,' poses in the press room during the 90th Annual Academy Awards at Hollywood & Highland Center in Hollywood, California, on March 4](//im.rediff.com/sports/2018/mar/05oscars-kobe.jpg?w=670&h=900)
IMAGE: NBA star and filmmaker Kobe Bryant, winner of the Best Animated Short Film award for 'Dear Basketball,' poses in the press room during the 90th Annual Academy Awards at Hollywood & Highland Center in Hollywood, California, on March 4. Photograph: Frazer Harrison/Getty Images
![Lionel Messi celebrates on scoring the third goal against Chelsea, his 100th Champions League goal, at Nou Camp in Barcelona on Wednesday, March 14](//im.rediff.com/sports/2018/mar/15lionel.jpg?w=670&h=900)
IMAGE: Lionel Messi celebrates on scoring the third goal against Chelsea, his 100th Champions League goal, at Nou Camp in Barcelona on March 14. Photograph: David Ramos/Getty Images
![USA's Brody Roybal and his teammates Josh Pauls and Joshua Misiewicz celebrate winning the Ice Hockey gold medal against Canada aat the Gangneung Hockey Centre, in Gangneung, South Korea on March 18](//im.rediff.com/sports/2018/apr/03best-celebrate.jpg?w=670&h=900)
IMAGE: USA's Brody Roybal and his teammates Josh Pauls and Joshua Misiewicz celebrate winning the Ice Hockey gold medal against Canada aat the Gangneung Hockey Centre, in Gangneung, South Korea on March 18. Photograph: Carl Recine TPX IMAGES OF THE DAY
![Juan Martin Del Potro poses with the trophy after defeating Roger Federer to win the Indian Wells tennis tournament on March 18](//im.rediff.com/sports/2018/mar/19potro2.jpg?w=670&h=900)
IMAGE: Juan Martin Del Potro poses with the trophy after defeating Roger Federer to win the Indian Wells tennis tournament on March 18. Photograph: Harry How/Getty Images
![Russian-born Greek businessman and owner of PAOK Salonika, Ivan Savvides, centre, pictured with what appears to be a gun in a holster, enters the pitch after the referee annulled a goal of PAOK during their soccer match against AEK Athens on March 12](//im.rediff.com/sports/2018/mar/13greek.jpg?w=670&h=900)
IMAGE: Russian-born Greek businessman and owner of PAOK Salonika, Ivan Savvides, centre, pictured with what appears to be a gun in a holster, enters the pitch after the referee annulled a goal of PAOK during their soccer match against AEK Athens on March 12. Photograph: Reuters
![Serena Williams leaves the court after her defeat to sister Venus Williams in the third round match of the BNP Paribas Open at Indian Wells on March 13](//im.rediff.com/sports/2018/mar/13serena.jpg?w=670&h=900)
IMAGE: Serena Williams leaves the court after her defeat to sister Venus Williams in the third round match of the BNP Paribas Open at Indian Wells on March 13. Photograph: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY Sports