In the potential absence of Shubman Gill, Rishabh Pant will step up to lead the side. (PTI Photo/Shahbaz Khan)

Rishabh Pant offered a brief look into India’s preparations for the must-win Guwahati Test, sharing a set of photos with teammates and captioning them, “In good company.” The post came at a time when the team is under scrutiny after going 1–0 down in the two-match series against South Africa.

Pant appeared at ease in the images, a contrast to the pressure India face heading into the second Test. With Shubman Gill still a question mark for the 2nd Test due to a neck spasm, Pant may lead India for the first time in Test cricket. His debut as captain will make him only the second wicketkeeper to lead India in the format, after MS Dhoni.

Rishabh Pant’s post on X

Notably, in the pictures, Shubman Gill was absent, as the vice captain and teammates Jasprit Bumrah, Axar Patel, Ravindra Jadeja, Akash Deep & Kuldeep Yadav posed for pictures. India will also be adapting to modified playing hours in Guwahati. Owing to early sunsets in the region, the match will begin 30 minutes ahead of the usual start time. The opening session will be followed by a shorter tea break, with lunch moved to early afternoon to maximise daylight. His comments and energy from behind the stumps have stood out, adding layers to an otherwise difficult match for India, who were bowled out for 93 in the fourth innings at Eden Gardens.

As the team regroups, Pant’s social-media post has been read as a sign of calm within the camp. The squad arrived in Guwahati knowing that only a win will help them salvage a draw in this series, and Pant’s leadership, if asked to do so, will be under close watch as he steps into a role previously held by MS Dhoni. The second Test at the Barsapara Cricket Stadium begins on Saturday, with India seeking to avoid back-to-back home series defeats and reshape the narrative after a challenging start.

NEW DELHI: Ten years after the Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act, 2015 came into force, a new study by the India Justice Report has exposed how the country’s juvenile justice system is crumbling under the same ills that plague adult courts – massive delays, crippling vacancies and shocking opacity. Children in conflict with the law, the very group the Act swore to protect in their “best interest”, are paying the heaviest price.As of Oct 31, 2023, more than 55,000 children were waiting for their cases to be decided, with 55% of the total cases pending before Juvenile Justice Boards (JJBs) across 18 states and two Union Territories. Out of 1,00,904 cases that came up before 362 JJBs in the year ending Oct 2023 (including 50,627 carried over from previous years), only 45,097 – a mere 45% – were disposed of. In Odisha the pendency rate touched a staggering 83%, while Karnataka managed to keep it at 35%. Nationally, the picture is grim: nearly one in every two cases simply rolls over to the next year.

The report, titled “Juvenile Justice and Children in Conflict with the Law: A Study of Capacity at the Frontlines”, is based on parliamentary answers, a year-long RTI inquiry and data from states (Nov 2022 to Oct 2023) . It reveals that one in every four JJBs – 24% or 111 out of 470 boards that responded – is functioning without the mandatory full bench of a principal magistrate and two social worker members. Only three states and Union Territories – Odisha, Sikkim and Jammu & Kashmir – have 100% fully constituted benches. With an average of 154 pending cases per board, the incomplete benches mean slower hearings, less child-sensitive decisions and prolonged institutionalisation of children.Perhaps the most alarming finding is that only 11 districts across the entire country meet the basic minimum standards required to deliver justice in a child’s best interest. Out of 292 districts that provided usable data on seven critical parameters – presence of a JJB, child welfare institution, special juvenile police unit, legal aid clinic, probation officer, staff strength and manageable pendency – just 11 cleared the bar. Eight of these are in Mizoram.Residential infrastructure for children in conflict with the law is equally dismal. Fourteen states, including large ones like Maharashtra, Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, West Bengal, Punjab, Andhra Pradesh and Telangana, have not established even a single “Place of Safety” for 16 -18-year-olds accused of heinous offences – a mandatory requirement under the Act. Facilities for girls are particularly scarce: only 40 homes nationwide can accommodate girls in conflict with the law, including those that house both genders.The study warns that the absence of proper facilities forces children to be shifted far from their families, making access to guardians and legal representation difficult and sometimes leading to unsafe mixing of age groups and offence categories – the very evils the 2015 Act was meant to end.Ten years on, the report concludes, India still cannot produce routine, public, time-series data to prove that its juvenile justice system is working optimally for the child. Instead, thousands of children remain trapped in limbo, bearing the brunt of a system that looks disturbingly similar to the broken adult criminal justice machinery it was supposed to be different from.

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NEW DELHI: A massive protest erupted after a 16-year-old Class 10 student died by suicide, allegedly jumping from a platform at Delhi’s Rajendra Place Metro Station and leaving behind a handwritten note.The boy, who left home for school on 18 November while his father was away, was found dead at the station. Police recovered his school bag, which contained a note in which he said he had been driven to take the step because of alleged harassment at school. “I am very sorry I did this, but the school staff said so much that I had to do it,” the note read.

He went on to apologise to his family, writing, “If any of my body (organs) works or is in condition to work, please donate it to someone who really needs it. My parents did a lot; I am sorry I couldn’t give them anything. I’m sorry, brother, I was rude. I’m sorry, mother, I broke your heart so many times, now I will break it for the last time.”Also Read: ‘Teachers did this to me’: 16-year-old Delhi student’s heartbreaking last note; parents devastatedHe added, “The school teachers are still there. What can I say to them? My last wish is that action be taken against them so that no other student does what I did. I am sorry, but the teachers did this to me.”According to an FIR filed by his father, the student had been “under severe mental stress” due to continuous harassment by teachers. The father alleged that his son had repeatedly complained about certain teachers who “scolded, insulted and mentally tormented him over minor issues”. Despite several verbal complaints to the school authorities, the alleged behaviour persisted, the FIR stated.The family described the boy’s final weeks as a period of escalating distress. They said their appeals to teachers and the principal had been ignored.News of the death prompted students and parents to gather outside the school, demanding accountability and action against those accused of harassment.Police say they are examining the claims made in the suicide note and the allegations in the FIR. The investigation is ongoing.

After fourteen long years of disappointment in Australia, England arrive for the Ashes 2025/26 with a rare blend of hunger, fearlessness and unfinished business. The first match of the five game Ashes 2025-26 will start from Friday, November 21 and will take pace at Optus Stadium in Perth.

England’s hunger and Australia’s quest for dominance

Their last triumph Down Under came in the distant glow of 2010–11, a memory that has grown heavier with every failed tour since. Under Ben Stokes’ bold leadership and Brendon McCullum’s fearless, tempo-driven ‘Bazball’ philosophy, England now believe they can shatter their drought on the toughest cricketing terrain in the world. Armed with pace, intent and renewed confidence, they enter the series opener looking not just to compete, but to rewrite history itself.

Australia walk into the 2025/26 Ashes with their own set of problems, yet remain an intimidating force, largely because they are built to thrive in crisis. Injuries to Pat Cummins and Josh Hazlewood have forced a sudden recalibration of their attack, but the leadership mantle lands in safe hands with Steve Smith, whose Ashes record continues to stand as one of cricket’s most formidable modern legacies. Smith’s ability to absorb pressure, control sessions and dictate tempo gives Australia a steadying presence during a transitional moment. Around him, the emergence of Scott Boland as a metronomic tormentor has been one of the most quietly impactful stories in recent Test cricket, his seam-perfect spells capable of flipping matches within overs.

With Australia’s batting core still robust and their home conditions notoriously unforgiving, the hosts enter the series with a mindset of restoring dominance, turning setbacks into fuel and trusting their depth to withstand England’s Bazball storm.

1. Channel Seven Commentators 

Channel Seven has assembled one of the most star-studded commentary line-ups for the Ashes 2025/26, led by the iconic duo of Ricky Ponting and former England great Stuart Broad, giving the broadcast a perfect blend of Australian sharpness and English insight. The panel is strengthened further by the arrival of David ‘Bumble’ Lloyd from the third Test onwards, adding humour and deep tactical understanding.

Returning heavyweights like Justin Langer, Matthew Hayden, Greg Blewett, Simon Katich, Trent Copeland, Aaron Finch and Damien Fleming ensure a rich mix of batting, bowling, and coaching intellect. Hosting responsibilities sit with Mel McLaughlin and James Brayshaw, supported by Tim Lane, Alison Mitchell and Alister Nicholson on commentary duties. Expert umpiring perspective is provided by five-time ICC Umpire of the Year Simon Taufel, while respected journalists Peter Lalor and Bharat Sundaresan complete the coverage with breaking news and in-depth reporting.

Channel Seven

Ricky Ponting, Stuart Broad, David Lloyd (from 3rd Test), Mel McLaughlin, James Brayshaw, Tim Lane, Alison Mitchell, Alister Nicholson, Justin Langer, Matthew Hayden, Greg Blewett, Simon Katich, Trent Copeland, Aaron Finch, Damien Fleming, Brad Hodge, Lisa Sthalekar, Callum Ferguson, Simon Taufel, Peter Lalor, Bharat Sundaresan

Also READ: AUS vs ENG, Ashes 2025-26: Broadcast, Live streaming details – When and where to watch in India, Australia, US, UK, Canada & other countries

2. Fox Cricket Commentators

Fox Cricket’s Ashes 2025/26 commentary team is headlined by Adam Gilchrist, Mark Waugh and Brett Lee, creating a powerhouse trio of Australian legends bringing elite-level insight and energy. They are joined by former England captain Michael Vaughan and broadcasting star Isa Guha, offering sharp English perspective. One of the biggest additions this year is David Warner, stepping into commentary for the first time, bringing recent-player understanding and trademark boldness. The team is rounded out by Mark Howard, Brad Haddin, Michael Hussey, Kerry O’Keeffe, Brendon Julian and Mel Jones, together forming a deep, versatile panel capable of delivering analysis, humour, and high-quality match breakdowns throughout the series.

Fox Cricket

Adam Gilchrist, Mark Waugh, Brett Lee, Michael Vaughan, Isa Guha, David Warner, Mark Howard, Brad Haddin, Michael Hussey, Kerry O’Keeffe, Brendon Julian, Mel Jones

3. TNT Sports (UK) Commentators 

For viewers in the UK, TNT Sports presents a polished and insightful Ashes commentary panel led by presenter Becky Ives. The coverage features a blend of celebrated English cricketers such as Sir Alastair Cook and Steven Finn, paired with the sharp analysis of Justin Langer, ensuring a balanced cross-national perspective. The commentary roster also includes experienced broadcasters Alastair Eykyn and Rob Hatch, while Ebony Rainford-Brent adds her analytical depth and clarity to the broadcast. Together, they offer UK fans a comprehensive, modern, and high-quality viewing experience tailored for the biggest Test rivalry in cricket.

Also READ: Ben Stokes vs Nathan Lyon: Head to Head record in Test cricket ahead of the Ashes 2025-26 Test series

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