Smriti Mandhana and her father

Indian cricketer Smriti Mandhana‘s wedding has been postponed after her father was rushed to a hospital in Sangli on Sunday, experiencing symptoms similar to a heart attack. The India opener had to put all wedding celebrations on hold while her father remains under medical observation and may require an angiography.The wedding between Smriti and singer Palash Muchhal was planned for November 23 in Sangli. Her father, Shriniwas Mandhana, was taken to Sarvhit Hospital and Medical Research Centre in Sangli after falling ill on Sunday.“Shriniwas Mandhana, Smriti Manandana’s father, experienced symptoms of a heart attack around 11:30 after feeling left-sided chest pain. He was immediately transferred to Sarvhit Hospital and Medical Research Centre in Sangli for further assessment. Despite his slightly raised cardiac enzymes, he requires ongoing observation. Our cardiologist, Dr Rohan Thanedar, has examined him as well,” Dr Naman Shah, Director of Sarvhit Hospital, told news agency ANI. “There are no new findings on the echocardiogram. However, he may need continuous ECG monitoring and, if necessary, angiography. Currently, his blood pressure is slightly elevated, so he needs continuous monitoring…It could be due to physical or mental stress, perhaps because it is wedding season with a lot of hectic activity.”Smriti’s manager Tuhin Mishra informed the media about the indefinite postponement of the wedding due to her father’s health concerns.“Smriti is very clear that she wants her father to recover first and then resume the wedding. It has been indefinitely postponed,” he said.The pre-wedding festivities had already begun, with social media showcasing various celebrations on Saturday. Friends and family shared glimpses of the couple’s celebrations, including a video of Smriti and Palash dancing to the Bollywood song ‘Tenu Leke’ during what appeared to be their sangeet ceremony.The development has caused the couple to put their wedding plans on hold while focusing on the health and recovery of Smriti’s father.The medical team continues to monitor Shriniwas Mandhana’s condition at the Sangli hospital, with further decisions about the treatment plan pending based on his progress.

Mumbai: Adani Group‘s defence and aerospace unit is considering an acquisition of Flight Simulation Technique Centre (FSTC), India’s leading non-captive pilot training firm, people familiar with the matter said. If the deal goes through, it will mark the group’s entry into the aviation training business and ramp up its M&A portfolio.Established in 2012, FSTC has four simulator facilities in Gurugram, Hyderabad, and Mumbai, as well as four flying schools in Haryana, Surat, and Solapur, as listed on its website.The proposed FSTC transaction is expected to be routed through Horizon Aero Solutions, a 50:50 joint venture between Adani Defence Systems and Technologies (ADST) and Prime Aero. ADST is a wholly-owned subsidiary of group flagship Adani Enterprises, while Prime Aero is owned by Prajay Patel, son of Nationalist Congress Party leader Praful Patel.

ADST has been building its business both organically and through acquisitions. In Dec 2024, it acquired controlling interest in Air Works, which enabled its foray into aircraft maintenance, repair, and overhaul (MRO) business. It then furthered its presence with a 50% share purchase in Indamer Technics (the remaining 50% is held by Prime Aero).Defence and aerospace is a strategically important sector for the Adani Group, with plans to triple its investment in the near future. Currently, the group has invested Rs 5,000 crore in the sector.The potential FSTC deal will allow ADST to capitalise on the growing demand for cockpit crew, who are mandated to undergo a minimum number of flight simulation hours for training. Demand for military pilots is increasing due to rising geopolitical tensions, higher defence spends, and need for advanced skills.ADST has been supplying drones, loitering munitions, and other warfare systems to India’s defence ministry, which were used during Operation Sindoor, a four-day conflict between India and Pakistan in May of this year.FSTC’s clientele includes Indian defence forces and commercial airlines. “You are giving me shocking news. I’m boarding a flight. I’m going on a holiday,” said FSTC co-founder and MD Dilawer Singh Basraon, when reached on his cell phone. An Adani Group spokesperson declined to comment on TOI’s email query.In FY24, FSTC reported an operating profit of Rs 124.2 crore on a revenue of Rs 214.5 crore. A Nov 2024 note by India Ratings and Research highlighted that FSTC’s revenue growth has been fueled by ongoing investments in expanding its fleet of simulators and training aircraft, funded through a mix of resources including loans. In FY23, its operating profit and revenue were Rs 96.4 crore and Rs 165.1 crore, respectively.Apart from FSTC, CAE Simulation Training, a 50:50 joint venture between Canada’s CAE and InterGlobe Enterprises, also provides pilot training. Its main customers are Indigo (owned by InterGlobe) and Akasa. Additionally, there is the IPO-bound Flywings Simulator Training Centre. In Aug 2025, CAE, while announcing a new pilot training centre in Mumbai, predicted a demand for 20,000 new professional pilots in India over the next 10 years, with the Asia Pacific region requiring 98,000 pilots during the same period.

NEW DELHI: Defence minister Rajnath Singh on Sunday said the borders “can change” as he hinted that Sindh, which went to Pakistan during Partition, could “return to India again someday,” stressing the region’s deep civilisational ties with the country.Speaking at an event, he said, “Today, the land of Sindh may not be a part of India, but civilisationally, Sindh will always be a part of India. And as far as land is concerned, borders can change. Who knows, tomorrow Sindh may return to India again.”

The minister referred to the Sindh province along the Indus River, noting that many Sindhi families migrated to India after 1947. Citing former deputy PM and BJP stalwart LK Advani, he said Sindhi Hindus of that generation had never fully reconciled with the separation.“Lal Krishna Advani wrote in one of his books that Sindhi Hindus, especially those of his generation, still haven’t accepted the separation of Sindh from India,” Singh said.He cited Advani to underline that the Indus River’s importance goes far beyond geography. “Not just in Sindh, but throughout India, Hindus consider the Indus River sacred. Many Muslims in Sindh also believed that the water of the Indus was no less sacred than the Aab-e-Zamzam of Mecca. This is Advani ji’s quote.”Reiterating the emotional link, Singh said, “Our people of Sindh, who hold the Indus River sacred, will always be our own. No matter where they are, they will always be ours.”Singh also recalled his efforts to provide proper citizenship via law to various immigrant Sindhi families after his visit to the community in Delhi back in 2019, describing their living conditions as “distressing.” He went on to add that because of NDA being in minority in Rajya Sabha back then, the bill collapsed in the upper house, but Amit Shah taking over the home affairs continued the work in the direction, a possible reference to Citizenship Amendment Act.“People from the Sindhi community and various other non-Muslim groups had fled to Delhi, where they were living in slums in extremely distressing conditions. I personally went to see them. After returning, I decided that we would enact whatever laws were necessary to grant them proper citizenship. I spoke to Prime Minister Modi and apprised him that I was moving forward in this direction. The bill was prepared, I introduced it in the Lok Sabha, and it was passed there. But it was the final phase of 2019, only a few months were left, and we did not have a majority in the Rajya Sabha. I spoke to several opposition leaders, but they refused to support it. I said that if it didn’t pass that year, it would certainly be passed the next year. Later, when Amit Shah became the Home Minister, I spoke to him, and he took the work forward,” he added. Earlier in September while interacting with the Indian community in Morocco, Singh had expressed confidence that Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) would integrate with India “without aggressive steps”.“PoK will be ours on its own. Demands have started being made in PoK, you must have heard sloganeering,” he had said then.

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has announced a fresh-looking 15-member squad for the upcoming three-match ODI series against South Africa, beginning November 30. With regular captain Shubman Gill and vice-captain Shreyas Iyer sidelined due to injuries, senior wicketkeeper-batter KL Rahul has been entrusted with leadership duties. The series marks an important phase in India’s preparation cycle as the team continues to test its depth ahead of a packed 2026 calendar.

KL Rahul returns as captain amid injury setbacks

Rahul, who remains India’s preferred wicketkeeper in ODIs, returns to the leadership role at a time when the team has been hit by multiple injury concerns. Gill is currently undergoing medical evaluation in Mumbai after sustaining a neck injury during the opening Test against South Africa. The incident forced him to withdraw from the remainder of the Test series, with Rishabh Pant stepping in as stand-in captain. Shreyas Iyer, too, has not recovered in time, prompting the selectors to explore alternate combinations.

Despite Pant’s inclusion, the national selectors have opted to retain Dhruv Jurel in the squad. The young wicketkeeper impressed with his composure on the Australia tour and continues to remain in the mix as part of India’s long-term plans.

Fresh additions as Ravindra Jadeja and Rishabh Pant strengthen the squad

The ODI setup sees the return of several key players, including Ravindra Jadeja, Pant, Tilak Varma and Ruturaj Gaikwad. Jadeja’s comeback means Axar Patel misses out after a lukewarm performance in Australia. Meanwhile, Mohammed Siraj is being rested with the selectors prioritising workload management ahead of back-to-back Test commitments.

Tilak and Gaikwad, both highly rated in India’s white-ball structure, are expected to play crucial roles in the middle order. Their inclusion signals a continued push to provide opportunities to emerging talents, especially with Hardik Pandya still unavailable. Consequently, young all-rounder Nitish Kumar Reddy holds his spot after positive displays in recent outings.

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Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli headline batting unit; limited pace resource

India’s batting department carries a blend of experience and youth. Veteran stars Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli will provide the much-needed stability at the top, while Yashasvi Jaiswal could be in line to add to his solitary ODI appearance.

However, India’s pace attack appears relatively thin for this tour. With Siraj and Bumrah resting after the Test series, the selectors have named only three specialist fast bowlers: Arshdeep Singh, Harshit Rana and Prasidh Krishna. This means the spin trio of Jadeja, Kuldeep Yadav and Washington Sundar will shoulder a significant share of the bowling workload.

The ODI leg begins in Ranchi on November 30 before moving to Raipur on December 3. The final match will be played in Visakhapatnam on December 6. After the 50-over series, both teams will gear up for a five-match T20I contest.

India’s squad for South Africa ODIs: KL Rahul (c/wk), Rohit Sharma, Yashasvi Jaiswal, Virat Kohli, Tilak Varma, Rishabh Pant (wk), Washington Sundar, Ravindra Jadeja, Kuldeep Yadav, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Harshit Rana, Ruturaj Gaikwad, Prasidh Krishna, Arshdeep Singh, Dhruv Jurel

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PM Narendra Modi participated in the IBSA Leaders’ Meeting on G20 margins, stressing that UNSC reform is imperative, and said that there should be no room for double standards while fighting terrorism. PM Modi joined the trilateral mechanism meet hosted by South African President Cyril Ramaphosa and attended also by Brazil President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva.While all three countries have had their share of problems with the US under Trump, diplomatic sources played down suggestions that the meeting was a response to the Americans as they cited the fact that a substantive IBSA summit meeting took place on the margins of 2024 G20 summit too in Rio.The US boycotted the G20 summit in South Africa because of alleged mistreatment of white Afrikaners.PM Modi said global institutions do not reflect the realities of 21st century. “None of us is a permanent member of UN Security Council. This clearly demonstrates that global institutions no longer represent today’s world. Therefore, IBSA must send a unified message to the world: institutional reform is not an option but imperative,” he said. “Similarly, we must work in close coordination in the fight against terrorism. On an issue of such gravity, there can be no room for double standards. For the sake of global peace and prosperity, united and decisive action is essential,” he added, calling for institutionalising the NSA-level meeting of the countries to strengthen security cooperation.Describing the meeting as timely, PM Modi noted it coincided with the first G20 summit on African soil and marked the culmination of four consecutive G20 presidencies by Global South countries, of which the last three were by IBSA members. This, he said, had resulted in several important initiatives focused on human-centric development, multilateral reform and sustainable growth. Modi emphasised IBSA is not just a group of three countries but an important platform connecting three continents, three major democratic nations and three major economies.“Highlighting technology’s crucial role in ensuring human-centric development, the PM proposed establishing an ‘IBSA Digital Innovation Alliance’ to facilitate sharing of Digital Public Infrastructure like UPI, health platforms like CoWIN, cybersecurity frameworks and women-led tech initiatives among the countries,” said an Indian readout, adding the PM also emphasised IBSA’s potential to contribute to development of safe, trustworthy and human-centric AI norms. He invited IBSA leaders to the AI summit next year.“Appreciating IBSA Fund’s work in supporting projects across 40 countries in sectors like education, health, women empowerment and solar energy, the PM proposed IBSA Fund for Climate Resilient Agriculture to further advance South-South Cooperation,” said the Indian government.

South Africa’s Senuran Muthusamy at the Test match between India and South Africa. (Image: AP Photo/Anupam Nath)

South African all-rounder Senuran Muthusamy, who had a disappointing debut in India in 2019, made a remarkable comeback by scoring a crucial 109 runs against India in 2025. His performance came after successful outings in Pakistan where he took 11 wickets in the first Test and scored 89 not out in the second Test, demonstrating his improved ability to play in subcontinental conditions.Muthusamy entered to bat when South Africa was at 201 for five, turning the situation around with his century. This marks a significant turnaround from his 2019 debut series in India where he managed only two wickets in two Tests.

“My journey’s been unique. Got a taste of international cricket in 2019 in India, debuted here, went back into the wilderness a little bit. Like you say, cricket is such a journey that you just try to take it one day at a time. You try not to think too far ahead. But there were times, especially after 2019, where I wasn’t sure if I’d ever play Test cricket again and certainly not in India after we lost that series,” Muthusamy reflected.“So just really grateful for the support that I’ve got back home, for the people that are really close with me, the coaches, the support staff here, the players, my family back home, my friends. They’ve been incredible.”After his debut series, Muthusamy had to wait four years to play his third Test, spending time in domestic cricket. He has also worked with sports scientist Cheryl Calder to enhance his performance.“Yeah, it’s fantastic, especially having come through to India in 2019 and we lost the series pretty badly. So, yeah, I’ve gone back to domestic cricket and I’ve managed to work my way back into the national set-up and I’m just really grateful for the opportunity to be in India and to put in a performance like that in the first innings is an awesome experience.”Muthusamy, whose ancestors are from Nagapattinam in Tamil Nadu, has never visited his ancestral town, though his mother and aunts have maintained connections with their extended family there.“Of course, I’m of Indian heritage, but that was quite a few generations ago. So my roots are in the south, in Tamil Nadu, my mum and my aunt have been to visit our extended family on that end of India, I haven’t been there as yet.”The all-rounder sees himself as a versatile player who can contribute in multiple ways to the team.“I see myself as an all-rounder, so I try to contribute where I can towards the team’s cause, whether it be bowling spin on the field or with the bat. I just try to add as much value as I can.”He praised his teammates Kyle Verreynne and Marco Jansen for their batting performances.“With Kyle this morning, it was against a new ball and obviously with a nine o’clock start, we expected it to be really tough and for them to really test us and they did. So, I thought he batted really, really well. That was an awesome partnership to really set up the innings. And Marco was sublime when he came in. You guys know him really well from his T20 exploits, especially in India. He’s got fantastic levers. He’s a clean striker of the ball and he really, really showed his skills today. So, that was an awesome treat to watch from the other end.”

The TOI correspondent from Washington:

Tragedy struck with brutal finality at the Dubai airshow when an Indian Air Force Tejas fighter jet crashed during a negative-G manoeuvre, killing Wing Commander Namansh Syal and plunging the biennial spectacle into grief. Hours later, a heartfelt Instagram post from US F-16 demonstration pilot Taylor “FEMA” Hiester cut through the noise, emerging as a stark reminder of the bond that unites aviators across flags and frontiers. Hiester, a captain with US Air Force’s Thunderbirds-inspired demo team, was prepping for his own routine when the Tejas went down and erupted in flames. His reflective post – shared with 150,000 followers – captured shock, sorrow and solidarity. He revealed that his team chose to withdraw from their final performance, a rare step in a world driven by tight schedules and multimillion-dollar deals.“Though the show made the shocking decision to continue with the flying schedule, our team along with a few others made the decision to cancel our final performance out of respect to the pilot, his colleagues and family,” Hiester, 34, wrote.He described walking past the Tejas crew, motionless beside an “empty parking spot”, ladder still on the ramp, the pilot’s belongings untouched in his rental car. “I suppose each of us contemplated their new reality that came in an instant,” he added – an image that distilled the dread every fighter pilot carries into the cockpit.As the airshow pressed ahead with upbeat announcements, Hiester felt uneasy. Crowds cheered, sponsors were thanked, and a closing line – “Congratulations to all of our sponsors… we’ll see you in 2027” – clashed sharply with the grief still hanging over the tarmac. “It was uncomfortable for me for a lot of reasons, some of them selfish,” he wrote, imagining his own team breaking down their gear amid blaring music and carnival energy.That dissonance became a “gift”: a reminder that beyond rockstar treatment and sponsor demands, what endures are the teammates who become family, he wrote. “The people you invest in, the people that you love and the people that love you back… will be the only way you live past your own individual end,” Hiester concluded.The Texas-born F-16 Viper pilot with over 1,500 flight hours has become an emblem of the global aviator brotherhood – one in which an American ace grieves an Indian pilot with the intimacy of shared skies. Tributes filled forums and pilot circles. “Humanity and camaraderie is still alive. Long live the brotherhood of men in uniform,” wrote one user.