NEW DELHI: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday hailed Microsoft’s “largest ever investment in Asia” as the tech giant announced that it will invest $17.5 billion in India to advance its cloud and artificial intelligence (AI) infrastructure.In a social media post on X, the prime minister said that the world is optimistic about India when it comes to AI.“When it comes to AI, the world is optimistic about India! Had a very productive discussion with Mr. Satya Nadella. Happy to see India being the place where Microsoft will make its largest-ever investment in Asia,” PM Modi said.“The youth of India will harness this opportunity to innovate and leverage the power of AI for a better planet,” he added.This comes moments after Microsoft’s chief executive Satya Nadella announced that the company will invest $17.5 billion in India to support the country’s rapidly expanding artificial intelligence ecosystem.In a post shared on X, Nadella said, “Thank you, PM Narendra Modi ji, for an inspiring conversation on India’s AI opportunity. To support the country’s ambitions, Microsoft is committing US$17.5B — our largest investment ever in Asia — to help build the infrastructure, skills, and sovereign capabilities needed for India’s AI-first future.”According to a press release issued by Microsoft, “Together, Microsoft and India are poised to set new benchmarks and drive the country’s leap from digital public infrastructure to AI public infrastructure in the coming decade. We are shaping a future that is more equitable and uniquely Indian in its scale and impact.”“Microsoft’s investment in India focuses on three pillars — scale, skills and sovereignty — aligned with the Prime Minister’s vision of building a comprehensive ecosystem that drives AI innovation and access at a national scale,” it added.Puneet Chandok, President, Microsoft India and South Asia, said, “Microsoft has been part of India’s fabric for more than three decades. As the nation moves confidently into its AI-first future, we are proud to stand as a trusted partner in advancing the infrastructure, innovation and opportunity that can power a billion dreams.”“Building on the $3 billion investment announced in January 2025, our new $17.5 billion commitment and deep partnership across India’s technology ecosystem are focused on turning India’s AI ambition into impact for every citizen. This transformation is anchored on three pillars: hyperscale infrastructure to run AI at scale, sovereign-ready solutions that ensure trust, and skilling programs that empower every Indian to not just join the future but shape it,” he added.The announcement comes just days after Nadella met Prime Minister Narendra Modi. During the meeting, PM Modi and Nadella discussed the country’s AI roadmap and growth priorities.

Actress-cum-anchor Sahiba Bali has finally reacted to the swirl of rumours linking her to India all-rounder Washington Sundar, using a wry Instagram Story to question the very basis of the gossip.

Coffee-date clip fuels dating rumours between Sahi Bali and Washington

Speculation around Sahiba and Sundar spiked after a fan-shot video from Dubai appeared online earlier this year, showing the pair leaving a café together ahead of India’s Champions Trophy fixture. Social-media pages and gossip forums quickly branded her Sundar’s girlfriend, stitching the clip with old photos and screenshots to suggest a secret romance.

Sahiba Bali clears the air on Washington Sundar dating rumours

Rather than issuing a long written note, Sahiba opted for an understated, almost sarcastic story, framing the rumours as directionless as people trying to track her movements.

In a short video clip of herself riding through a city street, Sahiba overlaid the caption: “internet rumours being as baseless as my whereabouts (surprised at both),” a tongue-in-cheek line widely read as her first public comment on the alleged relationship.​

The line “baseless as my whereabouts” doubles as a jab at the constant “spotted” culture around celebrities and the guesswork that often passes for reporting. By refusing to name Sundar directly, she dismissed the chatter without adding more fuel, signalling that her personal life is not up for public decoding via grainy videos and out-of-context screenshots.​

Also READ: Sahiba Bali reveals crush on Pat Cummins; Australia captain responds with grace

Fans divided but many back Sahiba

Responses to her post have been split: some fans continued to ship the alleged couple, replying with heart emojis and playful comments, while many others applauded her for calling out baseless gossip with humour instead of anger. Several users pointed out that Sahiba has repeatedly kept her dating life private and that no one is entitled to an explanation simply because a cricketer and an actor were seen sipping a coffee together.

Meanwhile, Sundar has maintained complete silence on the subject, sharing only cricket and training-related updates across his social handles in recent weeks. He will soon be seen in action in the upcoming five-match T20I series against South Africa.

Also READ: Explained – Why fast bowler Arshdeep Singh took sports presenter Sahiba Bali out for an ice cream?

Nikhil Chaudhary (Photo by Mark Metcalfe/Getty Images)

The Indian Premier League (IPL) governing council has finalised the roster of players who will be up for bidding at the upcoming auction in Abu Dhabi on December 16. A total of 350 cricketers have made the final shortlist and will go under the hammer as all ten franchises hunt for reinforcements ahead of the new season. While names such as Cameron Green, Prithvi Shaw, Sarfaraz Khan, Jamie Smith and Quinton de Kock are driving most of the pre-auction chatter, another player has unexpectedly captured fan interest. That cricketer is Nikhil Chaudhary, an all-rounder currently based in Australia, whose presence in the ‘uncapped Indian all-rounders 5’ (UAL5) category has left many supporters scratching their heads. Chaudhary, listed with a base price of INR 40 lakh, has been registered under the Punjab Cricket Association.

Chaudhary’s cricketing journey began in India. He made his List A and T20 debuts for Punjab back in 2017, long before relocating to Australia. Now 29, he has built a substantial career in the Australian domestic structure, including the Big Bash League. Turning out for the Hobart Hurricanes, he has featured in 20 BBL matches, scoring 386 runs and claiming nine wickets. In the longer format, he has represented Tasmania in first-class cricket. He is also only the second Indian-origin player to feature in the BBL, following Unmukt Chand, having shifted his base to Australia in 2020. At this auction, teams will vie for 77 open roster slots, 31 of which are reserved for overseas signings. The highest base price remains INR 2 crore, with 40 players choosing to enter the auction at that tier. The event will begin at 2:30 PM IST next Tuesday. Initially, 1,390 cricketers had thrown their names into the ring, but only 350 made the final cut, including 240 Indians and 110 overseas players. The pool features 224 uncapped Indians and 14 uncapped overseas players. Franchise retention lists had already been announced earlier in the year.

Sourav Ganguly, Mohammed Shami, and Ajit Agarkar

Mohammed Shami‘s recent performance in domestic cricket has been exceptional, with 11 wickets in his last three matches in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy. His latest achievements include figures of 3/34 against Puducherry and 4/34 against Haryana, following his impressive 4/13 against Services.Despite being absent from the Indian national team, Shami continues to demonstrate his prowess in domestic tournaments, including the Ranji Trophy, Vijay Hazare Trophy, and Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy.

Former BCCI president Sourav Ganguly has raised questions about Shami’s exclusion from the national team. The situation has highlighted tensions between Shami and the chairman of selectors, Ajit Agarkar, with the pacer expressing concerns about a lack of communication. “I’m sure the selectors are watching. I’m sure there is communication between Mohammed Shami and selectors; I don’t know. But if you ask me, in terms of fitness and skills, it’s the Mohammed Shami we know of. So I really don’t see any reason why can’t he keep playing Test matches and one-day and T20 cricket for India because the skill is enormous,” Ganguly stated during an event.Shami’s international career has faced uncertainty following his ankle surgery after the 2023 World Cup. His recovery was complicated by subsequent injuries, preventing his return to the squad.The experienced pacer missed the Border-Gavaskar Trophy in Australia despite being considered for selection. His last appearance for India was during the Champions Trophy, where he claimed nine wickets in five matches.At 35 years old, Shami’s cricket future requires careful consideration. The Indian pace attack currently features Jasprit Bumrah, who is being managed carefully, and Mohammed Siraj, who needs support.A potential return to international cricket could help ensure a smooth transition in India’s bowling lineup. While Test cricket might present challenges due to its demanding nature, Shami’s inclusion in the ODI format could provide him with valuable playing time.Shami maintains his ability to deliver impactful performances with the ball. His experience and skill set could still benefit the Indian cricket team across different formats.

NEW DELHI: Indian women’s team batter Smriti Mandhana had announced on Sunday that her wedding had been called off and asked fans and the media to stop speculation. Music composer Palash Muchhal later confirmed that he had “decided to move on” and warned of legal action against those spreading rumours.Mandhana issued her first public statement on social media after speculation around her personal life grew over the past month. She was scheduled to marry Muchhal on November 23, but the wedding was postponed after her father, Shriniwas, was hospitalised with a heart ailment.

“I need to clarify that the wedding is called off. I would like to close this matter here and implore all of you to do the same,” Mandhana wrote.“Over the past few weeks there has been plenty of speculation around my life and I feel it is important for me to speak out at this time,” she said in an Instagram post.Calling herself a “very private person”, Mandhana said she felt the need to clarify matters publicly. She added that her attention remained on cricket as India prepare for the upcoming international season.“I believe there is a higher purpose driving us all and for me that has always been representing my country at the highest level. I hope to continue to play and win trophies for India for as long as possible,” she said.Soon after Mandhana’s post, Muchhal shared his own statement, saying he had “decided to move on” and expressing distress over online speculation.“I have decided to move on in my life and step back from my personal relationship. It’s been very difficult for me to see people react so easily on baseless rumours about something which has been most sacred to me.“It’s the most difficult phase of my life and I will deal with it gracefully holding on to my beliefs,” he wrote.

Smriti updates Insta bio

As of Tuesday, Mandhana updated her Instagram bio and removed the evil eye emoji. The change has led to renewed discussion on social media, as fans tried to read meaning into the update.After the wedding was postponed, both Mandhana and Muchhal had added the evil eye emoji to their Instagram bios. Muchhal, however, has not removed the emoji from his profile.

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India’s five-match T20I series against South Africa, scheduled from December 9 to 19, will not only showcase top on-field talent but also a star-studded broadcast team across multiple languages.

From cricket veterans like Shaun Pollack to fan-favourites Mayanti Langer and Jatin Sapru, viewers will have a packed commentary and presentation line-up throughout the series.

The English panel features Ravi Shastri, Shaun Pollock, Pommie Mbangwa, Sunil Gavaskar, Harsha Bhogle and Robin Uthappa, bringing a blend of global experience, sharp analysis and storytelling. Their focus will be on tactics, match-ups and big-picture trends through the India-South Africa rivalry.

In Hindi, Aakash Chopra, Irfan Pathan, Abhishek Nayar, Parthiv Patel, Varun Aaron and Jatin Sapru will cater to the massive north-Indian audience. Expect detailed breakdowns of bowling plans, batting approach and plenty of light-hearted banter tailored for Hindi-speaking fans.

Regional language experts: Tamil, Telugu and Kannada

Tamil coverage will be helmed by Abhinav Mukund, Anirudha Srikkanth, K Srikkanth, KV Sathyanarayanan, S Badrinath, Sriram S and Sadagopan Ramesh, providing deep local insight and tactical nuance for southern viewers.

The Telugu team includes Hanuma Vihari, R Sridhar, MSK Prasad, Ashish Reddy, T Suman, NC Kaushik and Kalyan Krishna, bringing international and domestic experience to analysis of batting technique, spin play and strategy.

In Kannada, Venkatesh Prasad, Sunil Joshi, J Suchith, Bharath Chipli, Srinivasa Murthy, Vijay Bharadwaj and Akhil Balachandra headline the panel, ensuring Karnataka fans get region-specific perspectives and anecdotes.

Bhojpuri viewers will be served by Saurabh Kumar, Gulam Husain, K, Ashutosh Aman, Sumit Mishra, Satyaprakash, Shivam Singh and Mani Meraj, aiming to bring high-energy, desi-style commentary to the hinterland audience.

The Haryanvi team features Manvinder Bisla, Anil Chaudhary, Vishwaas, Sumit Narwal and Sonu Sharma, adding local flavour and relatable humour for fans from the northern belt.

For Bengali coverage, Shreevats Goswami, Sanjeeb Mukherjea, Gautam Bhattacharya, Shiladitya Chatterjee and RR Kaushik Varun will analyse games with a strong focus on technique and tactical depth. Marathi viewers will have Kedar Jadhav, Aditya Tare and Chaitanya Sant bringing insights from domestic and IPL experience.

Also READ: IND vs SA T20I Series – Broadcast, Live Streaming details | When & where to watch in India, USA, South Africa, UK & other countries

Mayanti Langer to lead the group of presenters

Fronting the broadcast will be a strong presenting group of Mayanti Langer, Tanay Tiwari, Anant Tyagi and Swedha Singh Bahal.

They will host pre-match, mid-innings and post-match shows, conduct interviews, and drive discussions with analysts and former players, ensuring fans get comprehensive build-up and reaction around every T20I of the IND vs SA series.

Also READ: Hardik Pandya slams paparazzi for capturing a derogatory video of his girlfriend Mahieka Sharma